After 20 years as affiliates, the Minnesota Twins and New Britain Rock Cats are breaking up.
The Pioneer Press broke the news of the Twins opting out of their deal with New Britain, and today, the Twins announced a deal with the Chattanooga Lookouts in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Chattanooga Lookouts are excited to announce the organization has signed a 4 year player development contract with the Minnesota Twins.
— Chattanooga Lookouts (@ChattLookouts) September 17, 2014
La Velle Neal III reports the Twins are “closing in” on a player development contract with Chattanooga, and a deal could be announced today.
The agreement means the Twins’ Double-A affiliate is moving from the Eastern League to the Southern League. The Lookouts were previously affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I appreciate all the Dodgers did for us over six years,” Lookouts owner Frank Burke said on Tuesday, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “They brought us some great memories with Yasiel Puig and Clayton Kershaw and Scott Van Slyke, but now I’m looking forward to starting a relationship with another major league team.
“This is the start of a new chapter for us.”
The Times Free Press said a relationship between the Twins and Lookouts is historic. Not only did Twins great and Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew play for the Lookouts, former Lookouts manager Cal Ermer also managed the Twins for two seasons (1967, 1968).
