Published: September 22, 2008 11:23 am            

Mariners come sailing in

CLINTON — After six seasons aligned with the Texas Rangers, the Clinton LumberKings are changing their affiliation in minor league baseball.

The LumberKings reached an agreement with the Seattle Mariners over the weekend to become that team’s farm team in the Midwest League. Ted Tornow, general manager of the LumberKings, confirmed the switch Monday morning.

“"The Mariners have been in the Midwest League for a long time," Tornow said. "They love our facility and want to be here. That means a lot to our franchise."

It means the Rangers probably are headed to Hickory, N.C., of the South Atlantic League. Hickory and Wisconsin, the former affiliate of the Mariners, are the only two low-A franchises without deals.

The LumberKings enjoyed five winning seasons in their six years with Texas. Included was this past year’s edition that finished with a 78-59 record.

Tornow was hoping for a four-year deal, and he has said he would like to have a long-term relationship with a major league franchise.

A two-year deal was not unexpected, though, in part because of uncertainty at the high-A level. The California League Bakersfield and High Desert franchises will move to the Carolina League in the coming years, which could create a desire for their major league affiliates to join the closer South Atlantic League at the low-A level. At present, the Rangers are at Bakersfield and the Mariners at High Desert.

The Rangers had the longest tenure in Clinton since San Francisco made a home here from 1980 through 1994. Since then, San Diego was in town for four years, followed by two-year agreements with Cincinnati and Montreal.

        

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