Astros break ties with Zephyrs

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Astros break ties with Zephyrs
N.O. to seek new affiliation Sept. 6
Friday, August 27, 2004
By Peter Barrouquere
Staff writer
The Houston Astros severed their eight-year relationship with the Zephyrs on Thursday.

Major-league teams had until Thursday to notify Commissioner Bud Selig's office of their intent to seek other minor-league affiliations.

"We've been notified by the Houston Astros of their intent to not renew with us, as anticipated," Zephyrs vice president/general manager Dan Rajkowski said.

The Zephyrs may begin negotiating with major-league teams that do not have a minor-league affiliate on Sept. 6. If they are not able to acquire a new major-league affiliation, one will be appointed by Major League Baseball.

Among possible replacements for the Astros are the San Diego Padres, who reportedly want out of Portland and have their Class AA farm team in Mobile, Ala., and the Montreal Expos, who were affiliated with the Edmonton Trappers.

The relationship between the Astros and the Z's, their Class AAA farm team, had been tenuous since last year, when Class AA Round Rock owner Nolan Ryan purchased the franchise rights to Edmonton and announced the intent to upgrade the Express to Triple-A the next season.

Since then, it has been reported that the Astros would shift their player-development contract to Round Rock. The Round Rock Double-A franchise will operate in Corpus Christi, Texas, next season.

"Certainly it comes as no surprise," Rajkowski said. "From our perspective, we've enjoyed the (Class AAA) affiliation with them, with the success of two championships, one a Triple-A World Series championship as well as a Pacific Coast League co-championship. "

After moving from Denver and joining the American Association as the Class AAA farm club of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1993, the Z's switched player development affiliations to Houston in 1997.

The Z's joined the PCL the next season and won the inaugural Triple-A World Series. They were co-champions with the Tacoma Rainiers in 2001 after the championship series was canceled because of the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

The Z's, who have been in third or fourth place in the PCL Eastern Division most of this year, have had three winning seasons as Houston's top farm team.

There are 14 former Zephyrs players on the Astros' 25-man roster, including reliever Russ Springer, who was called up Thursday. Shortstop Adam Everett and pitcher Wade Miller are on the disabled list. Overall, the Astros have had 90 players who were with the Z's at one time.

"We wish them the best of luck in their new relationship, and we look forward to going through the process to get ourselves a quality affiliation," Rajkowski said. "And I'm sure that we will."

Rajkowski said he anticipated no problem securing another affiliate for next season.

"On Sept. 6, I'll aggressively go after a long-term partner," he said. "We anticipate that there will be a nice pool of clubs that we'll be able to have conversations with."

Crazy questions -- Do the Astros lose any players not on the 40 man roster? Don't see how/or why but just didn't see anything confirming relocation of players to Astros new Triple A team.