Hagerstown's Municipal Stadium as seen from the first base side. (File photo) |
The future of the Hagerstown Suns became more than a local story on Friday.
The Washington Nationals announced they had agreed to two-year player-development contract extensions with every team in their minor league system — except the Single-A Suns of the South Atlantic League.
The latest development comes as the Suns continue to search for a permanent place to play. The team is at the center of a flurry of activity, which include upgrading Municipal Stadium to a proper playing code, while working to clear up new stadium situations in both Hagerstown and Winchester, Va.
“We are not turning our backs on Hagerstown,” said Doug Harris, Washington’s director of player development. “We need to evaluate and take the pulse of the situation. We will be monitoring and hope for a resolution of some sort.”
Triple-A Syracuse, Double-A Harrisburg and Single-A Potomac and Auburn were all kept in the Nationals’ fold through at least the 2014 season.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to make this commitment,” said Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo said in a news release. “To make this announcement so early in the season speaks to how much we value our relationships and the environments cultivated by the good people of Syracuse, Harrisburg, Potomac and Auburn.
“We take our affiliate relations very seriously in Washington. They are a vital part of our family, and we know that with time, these bonds will only strengthen.”
But Hagerstown was not mentioned in the release — a conspicuous absence. For now, the Suns have a working agreement with the Nationals through 2012.
“We value the geographic dynamics and value and respect the fans who come out and support our players,” Harris said. “The Nationals and myself have a great working relationship with (Suns President and majority owner Bruce Quinn).”
The player-development contract, or PDC, is an agreement that a major league team will provide players for the minor league affiliate to field a team. The minor league team is a private business, but the parent team provides the field staff and prospects that are being seasoned for a possible major league career.
The Suns have been affiliated with the Nationals since 2007, but recent developments have placed the team in limbo in Washington’s eyes.
First, 80-year-old Municipal Stadium was rated as a substandard facility by Major League Baseball guidelines.
The Nationals sent Quinn a letter informing him of upgrades that were required to bring the park to the level where it could house an affiliated team.
Two of the major problems for compliance for Municipal Stadium are the playing surface and the clubhouse facilities, Quinn said last month. Improvements after the 2010 season failed or were damaged. There are also fan and player safety issues.
According to a Washington Times report, the Nationals sent the same letter to all of the affiliates with a list of field and facility improvements they would like to see addressed to get a PDC extension.
In the interim, Quinn looked for other options for the Suns.
The Suns signed a letter of intent to move to Winchester, Va., provided the city could build a stadium complex.
That option dimmed on Tuesday when the Winchester City Council rejected the proposal to transfer park land into economic development control for stadium development.
The Suns and the city of Hagerstown are currently working on a two-year lease extension for Municipal Stadium that would lead to a new facility as part of a downtown redevelopment project targeted to open in 2015.
“The Suns value the relationship with the Washington Nationals very much and hope that a deal for a new stadium can be achieved quickly to keep the Nationals affiliation in Hagerstown for many years,” Quinn said Friday night.
If Hagerstown loses the Nationals affiliation, the Suns would be back on the open market, looking for another team.
Any Major League club that would consider an affiliation with Hagerstown still would need to address the upgrades at Municipal Stadium.
“We are not saying ‘No’ to Hagerstown,” Harris said. “We just need to keep tabs on everything that is happening. It is in our best interest and in the best interests of everyone involved.”
The Washington Nationals announced they had agreed to two-year player-development contract extensions with every team in their minor league system — except the Single-A Suns of the South Atlantic League.
The latest development comes as the Suns continue to search for a permanent place to play. The team is at the center of a flurry of activity, which include upgrading Municipal Stadium to a proper playing code, while working to clear up new stadium situations in both Hagerstown and Winchester, Va.
“We are not turning our backs on Hagerstown,” said Doug Harris, Washington’s director of player development. “We need to evaluate and take the pulse of the situation. We will be monitoring and hope for a resolution of some sort.”
Triple-A Syracuse, Double-A Harrisburg and Single-A Potomac and Auburn were all kept in the Nationals’ fold through at least the 2014 season.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to make this commitment,” said Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo said in a news release. “To make this announcement so early in the season speaks to how much we value our relationships and the environments cultivated by the good people of Syracuse, Harrisburg, Potomac and Auburn.
“We take our affiliate relations very seriously in Washington. They are a vital part of our family, and we know that with time, these bonds will only strengthen.”
But Hagerstown was not mentioned in the release — a conspicuous absence. For now, the Suns have a working agreement with the Nationals through 2012.
“We value the geographic dynamics and value and respect the fans who come out and support our players,” Harris said. “The Nationals and myself have a great working relationship with (Suns President and majority owner Bruce Quinn).”
The player-development contract, or PDC, is an agreement that a major league team will provide players for the minor league affiliate to field a team. The minor league team is a private business, but the parent team provides the field staff and prospects that are being seasoned for a possible major league career.
The Suns have been affiliated with the Nationals since 2007, but recent developments have placed the team in limbo in Washington’s eyes.
First, 80-year-old Municipal Stadium was rated as a substandard facility by Major League Baseball guidelines.
The Nationals sent Quinn a letter informing him of upgrades that were required to bring the park to the level where it could house an affiliated team.
Two of the major problems for compliance for Municipal Stadium are the playing surface and the clubhouse facilities, Quinn said last month. Improvements after the 2010 season failed or were damaged. There are also fan and player safety issues.
According to a Washington Times report, the Nationals sent the same letter to all of the affiliates with a list of field and facility improvements they would like to see addressed to get a PDC extension.
In the interim, Quinn looked for other options for the Suns.
The Suns signed a letter of intent to move to Winchester, Va., provided the city could build a stadium complex.
That option dimmed on Tuesday when the Winchester City Council rejected the proposal to transfer park land into economic development control for stadium development.
The Suns and the city of Hagerstown are currently working on a two-year lease extension for Municipal Stadium that would lead to a new facility as part of a downtown redevelopment project targeted to open in 2015.
“The Suns value the relationship with the Washington Nationals very much and hope that a deal for a new stadium can be achieved quickly to keep the Nationals affiliation in Hagerstown for many years,” Quinn said Friday night.
If Hagerstown loses the Nationals affiliation, the Suns would be back on the open market, looking for another team.
Any Major League club that would consider an affiliation with Hagerstown still would need to address the upgrades at Municipal Stadium.
“We are not saying ‘No’ to Hagerstown,” Harris said. “We just need to keep tabs on everything that is happening. It is in our best interest and in the best interests of everyone involved.”
