What!

THE YANKEES ARE COMING

By VAN ROSE and JOE PETRUCCI vrose@leader.net, jpetrucci@leader.net

A source close to the New York Yankees front office said the team will be moving its Triple-A franchise from Columbus, Ohio, to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The Yankees announced on Thursday they won’t renew their agreement with the Columbus Clippers, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The Clippers have been the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate since 1979. Columbus is more than 500 miles from the Bronx, while Lackawanna County Stadium is only about 120 miles from Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees will pick up where the Philadelphia Phillies left off at Lackawanna County Stadium, according to the source, who requested anonymity. Philadelphia did not renew its agreement with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons because it will move to Allentown for the 2008 season. The Phillies’ Triple-A team will play in Ottawa next season while a new stadium is built in Allentown. Philadelphia’s relationship with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre dates back to the Red Barons’ inception in 1989.

Although official negotiations can’t begin until Friday, it is expected the Red Barons’ deal with the Yankees will be announced at a press conference next week at Lackawanna County Stadium, possibly as early as Wednesday. Teams have until Sept. 30 to sign with a Major League club.
There’s also a chance the Red Barons will no longer be run by Lackawanna County. Rumors have been swirling about a possible sale to Las Vegas-based Mandalay Sports Entertainment. It is also possible Mandalay will be hired to manage the franchise.


Clippers, Yankees part ways

Major-league club ends 28-year affiliation with Columbus

The Columbus Dispatch

The New York Yankees announced today that they will not renew their deal with the Columbus Clippers baseball team, which ended with the Clippers' regular season Sept. 4.
Columbus Baseball Team Inc. is set to begin negotiations with available Major League Baseball teams Saturday and has until Sept. 30 to sign with another major-league club. Major league teams currently without triple-A affiliations include the New York Mets, Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles.

"I can guarantee there will be baseball in Columbus next season," Clippers president Ken Schnacke said.

It is believed that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman wants his triple-A team closer to New York. Scranton, Pa., approximately 120 miles west of New York City, is available since the Philadelphia Phillies allowed their contract to lapse. The team currently known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barrons will play in Allentown in 2008, and Philadelphia is rumored to be planning to play its top minor-league team in Ottawa for the 2007 season.