Headlines

  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Quick Hits: Cardinals, Molina, Minor League Affiliate Changes

By TC Zencka | November 10, 2020 at 9:34pm CDT

Four teams, including the Cardinals, are in on Yadier Molina, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals still seem the safest bet to re-sign their veteran catcher. The Cardinals have been the most eager, and Molina likewise for the Cardinals, per the Post-Dispatch. It’s frankly difficult to picture Molina in any uniform but Cardinal red, but stranger things have happened, especially in the time of COVID. The 38-year-old backstop has 17 seasons under his belt in St. Louis having appeared in 2,025 games with a triple slash of .281/.333/.404. Now, let’s check in on some affiliate changes…

  • The Columbia Fireflies learned during owner Steve Cohen’s introductory press conference that they are no longer among the Mets’ minor league affiliates, per the Athletic’s Tim Britton (Twitter thread). The Fireflies anticipate joining another organization’s affiliates, though where exactly they’ll end up is very much up in the air for now, as is the case for many minor league teams. As Britton notes, the Florida State League is moving from High-A to Low-A, which is sure to cause some upheaval among those minor league affiliates.
  • Rochester, New York will no longer house the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate, writes La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune. Popular local team the St. Paul Saints of the independent league are being looked at as a potential replacement – one of two independent league teams that are likely to join minor league baseball. The Twins have spent the past 17 seasons (not including 2020) with Rochester as an affiliate, though it’s hard to argue that St. Paul doesn’t make more sense simply from a logistics standpoint. Wichita and Sioux Falls are also being considered, per Neal.
Share 0 Retweet 2 Send via email0

Minnesota Twins New York Mets Notes St. Louis Cardinals La Velle E. Neal III Yadier Molina

Latest From Scott Boras On Paxton, Sanchez
Main
DJ LeMahieu To Reject Qualifying Offer
View Comments (37)
Post a Comment

37 Comments

  1. DarkSide830

    5 years ago

    i don’t think Saint Paul would make the jump. their brand is being one of the premier indy outfits.

    1
    Reply
    • stan lee the manly

      5 years ago

      They have a built-in fan base that outnumbers pretty much any other option for the move. They won’t have any problems making the move.

      Reply
    • BudLightKnight

      5 years ago

      Can we please get the Sugarland Skeeters to make the jump instead??

      Reply
      • sidewinder11

        5 years ago

        Or both?

        Reply
    • cheetobandito

      5 years ago

      Unless the money is good enough.

      Reply
  2. HubcapDiamondStarHalo

    5 years ago

    Lots of fond memories as a little boy, falling in love with baseball, watching my Rochester Red Wings funnel players to a then often dominant Baltimore Orioles team…

    4
    Reply
    • Tim_Buck-Two

      5 years ago

      Seems there’s been a lot of that… Who’s getting paid under the table?

      Reply
    • ABCD

      5 years ago

      The Rochester, NY franchise has been in operation since 1899, older than the American League.

      Reply
  3. AHH-Rox

    5 years ago

    When seeing mentions of the Twins AAA club, I always assumed it was Rochester, Minnesota. Oops.

    3
    Reply
    • kevincwilson

      5 years ago

      Me too!!

      Reply
  4. mlbtrrtblm

    5 years ago

    Somerset has already jumped to affiliated ball. Sugar Land has been long rumored to do the same. So St. Paul, if they join up with the Twins, would make three independent teams being affiliated.

    Reply
    • datrain021

      5 years ago

      Sioux Falls would also add to that count

      Reply
  5. Mlb1971

    5 years ago

    Rochester will probably get another AAA or AA team from another organization….

    I seem to remember when I was a kid the AAA Twins were the Teledo Mud Hens, but I could be wrong.

    Reply
    • ABCD

      5 years ago

      There is speculation that the Nationals will move their AAA team to Rochester since their agreement with Fresno has ended.

      1
      Reply
      • sidewinder11

        5 years ago

        Rochester certainly makes a ton more sense geographically for Washington than Fresno.

        1
        Reply
      • dtdt

        5 years ago

        What if Toronto has to play in Buffalo again in 2021? Rochester would be a natural fit if the Blue Jays don’t want to share their stadium with their AAA team.

        Reply
  6. ExileInLA 2

    5 years ago

    So the Mets commit to Syracuse and Binghamton, and Rochester loses its team. Tough break for western NY…

    Reply
  7. James1955

    5 years ago

    If a team offers Molina a 2 year contract. he will take it.

    1
    Reply
    • itslonelyatthetrop

      5 years ago

      Depends on the team.

      Reply
    • Big97

      5 years ago

      Maybe the Angels can sign Molina who might want to play with Pujols in presumably The Machine’s last year while giving the Angels a frontline catcher when healthy even at nearly 40.

      Reply
  8. User 4245925809

    5 years ago

    Wild about moving FSL from high A ball to low. Top quality stadiums most part since most are MLB ST ones and among some of the better ones around for MiLB in that regard.

    I can’t remember exactly when FSL was NOT high A ball, but would be pre 1970’s.

    1
    Reply
  9. letsholdemandgohome

    5 years ago

    If the Cardinals only want to give Yadi a one year deal, and other teams are willing to give him a two year deal, he should go with what’s best for him and his family. I would hate to see him go, but I would completely understand.

    Reply
    • TheOtherMikeD

      5 years ago

      He’s only made $155 million in his career. He really needs to be looking out for his family.

      Reply
      • letsholdemandgohome

        5 years ago

        There are several other considerations when making a decision like this other than money.

        1
        Reply
      • Dad

        5 years ago

        Yea, it’s about feeding his ego at this point!

        Reply
  10. ScottCFA

    5 years ago

    TC, if Florida State League is going to Low A, what is taking its place in High A? And why would they just shuffle leagues around? I know there’s a big MiLB realignment coming, but this one is kinda puzzling.

    Reply
    • its_happening

      5 years ago

      Good question Scott. Tons of teams are about to be cut which is sad. Organizations carry 7-9 minor league teams and now they want to trim it to 4. Why not 5 plus the rookie league?

      Reply
      • DarkSide830

        5 years ago

        my wonder is if they plan to keep more then 4 “teams,” of players, just only play organized games at 4 levels. for example, id assume they keep the DSL, but they wouldn’t have the DSL count as one of their four teams.

        Reply
        • its_happening

          5 years ago

          It is possible they aren’t counting the Rookie leagues like the Gulf Coast. I’m not sure. Gulf Coast league is great for the high school draftees and 16-17 year old International signings. It would be a shame to see them dropped. Perhaps it’s 4 teams plus 1 being rookie.

          Roughly 260 minor teams would be cut down to 120 plus 30 rookie teams if that’s the case. About a thousand professional players will no longer have a job. Probably less than a handful would be late-bloomers reaching the big leagues.

          Reply
        • Four4fore

          5 years ago

          Independent Leagues have sign working agreements with MLB so the pipeline will just take a different appearance. There will also be more collegiate summer wood bat leagues..

          Reply
        • DarkSide830

          5 years ago

          and part of me wonders that incorperating indy teams that the league has already made agreements with is a way to keep a larger number of affiliates while paying less. Perhaps the MLB teams make a larger cut of the earnings for the newly incorporated teams. I look at NYY’s system as an example, where they only cut the middle A team and made Somerset their AA affiliate.

          Reply
        • Four4fore

          5 years ago

          Didn’t Affiliated league players win a lawsuit over minimum wage laws? Don’t think that extends to Independent Leagues.

          Reply
    • dtdt

      5 years ago

      A Northwest League and Mid-Atlantic League will be created for high-A, using predominantly existing affiliates. The California league is also moving down to Low A.

      Reply
    • kje76

      5 years ago

      Per Baseball Digest:

      LOW A
      California League (8 teams)
      Florida State League (10 teams)
      Sally League (12 teams)

      HIGH A
      Midwest League
      Northwest League
      Carolina League
      New Mid-Atlantic League

      MLB is assigning affiliates. The MLB teams do not have final say.

      Also, per Baseball Digest:

      Why move the Cal League to Low A from High A? Purely to make the numbers across all of Minor League Baseball. There’s only room for six teams when all the other High-A slots are filled, so the decision was made to shift the Northwest League—which will be filled by affiliates of West Coast MLB teams—to High A. This is also the rationale for moving the Midwest League to High A and the Florida State League to Low A

      Reply
  11. stgpd

    5 years ago

    I can see the Saints going to AAA. Nice new stadium and more assured revenue picture as an affiliate. Tenure of high level Indy ball could get iffy in the new minor league picture.

    Reply
  12. 17dizzy

    5 years ago

    As a Cardinal Fan— I applaud both Molina and Wainwright for wanting to finish their Careers wearing a Cardinals uniform. They are still positive contributors plus above average mlb talent inspire of their age!!

    But—- if I were them—- I would not come back to the Cardinals !!! Let’s face it. If John Mozeliak was going to sign the to a contract—— He would have already done it before now!!! He signed Matt Carpenter to a ridiculous 2 yr. $36 million contract before he hit free agency. Just so he could stay in a Cardinal uniform. Plus—- Carpenter has not been Matt Carpenter for 3+ seasons. Molina and Wainwright have still been great Cardinal contributors even through last season.

    Mozeliak is going to do Molina and Wainwright the same way he did Ozuna. Let’s say the Yankees offered the pair fair contracts- based on incentives-for a year or 2.

    Mozeliak’s standard line is always the same when he intends to dump good well liked ballplayers to lower salaries from the Cardinals.
    “Well— We tried to sign them! But we just don’t have the money to compete with the Yankees”
    Mozeliak thinks if he takes that stance—- it takes the heat off of himself. Maybe in the past it has, but we are all too familiar with his lying tactics and beating around the bush excuses when he makes dumb mistakes.

    Molina and Wainwright both would be great inexpensive fits for the Yankees!! And most probably could guide the Yankees to another World Championship.

    In that case—— both Wainwright and Molina could finish out their careers on top!! Not with the Cardinals, since Mozeliak’s goal is to have a .500 2021 team which might luck into a last position playoff spot in 2021.

    A last position playoff position always insures Mozeliak and the Cardinals Owners would have to spend money on an impact hitter of which the Cardinals have desperately needed for years.

    Reply
    • Dad

      5 years ago

      You hit the nail on the head. They are running the Freaking Stl Cardinals like they are in an independent league. Until Mo is gone this is as good as it is going to get.What idiot signs Matt Carpenter to an extension when everyone else can see he sucks!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Recent

    Royals Receiving Interest In Catching Prospects

    J.C. Escarra Drawing Trade Attention

    Cristian Javier Begins Rehab Assignment

    Multiple Teams Showing Interest In DJ LeMahieu

    Rafael Devers Suffering From Disk Injury In Lower Back

    Mets’ Dedniel Nunez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Seattle Mariners

    Reds Activate Jake Fraley, Option Christian Encarnacion-Strand

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Cubs Select Brooks Kriske

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version