Cubs Extend Player Development Contracts With All Five Minor League Affiliates
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has agreed to player development contract extensions with all five of its minor league affiliates.
Triple-A Iowa, Double-A Tennessee, Single-A Daytona and Single-A Peoria each reached four-year contract extensions with the Cubs through the 2012 campaign. Short-season Single-A Boise reached a two-year extension with the Cubs through the 2010 season.
By the end of these current contracts, the Cubs will have enjoyed a total of 75 seasons of relationships with its five minor league affiliates.
"We are thrilled to extend agreements with our five minor league affiliates," said Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita. "Our minor league clubs are a key contributor to the recent success we have enjoyed at the major league level, and they continue to help develop players who will impact the organization in the future."
The relationship between the Chicago Cubs and Iowa is now set to reach 31 seasons thanks to this extension, as 2008 will mark the 27th season that Iowa has served as the Cubs Triple-A affiliate. The current relationship is the 12th-longest connection among the 159 minor league teams affiliated with a major league counterpart. The Orioles and Single-A Bluefield hold the record at 49 years through the 2007 season.
The Cubs and Double-A Tennessee completed their first season together in 2007 and will see that relationship extend to six years thanks to this new contract.
The Cubs and Single-A Daytona will see their relationship extend to 20 seasons by the year 2012. The 2008 campaign will mark the 16th season as partners, as Daytona joined the Cubs chain in 1993.
The Cubs and Single-A Peoria will double their current relationship from four years (through 2008) to eight years thanks to this contract extension. The affiliation between these two teams began in 2005. Chicago and Peoria had previously worked together from 1985-1995.
The Cubs and Short-season Single-A Boise will reach 10 years of partnership by the 2010 campaign. The teams first affiliated for the 2001 campaign, as next season marks their eighth year together.