For at least two more years the Nashville Sounds will stay the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
On Tuesday, the organizations extended their player development contract through the end of the 2014 season. Whether that relationship continues further could depend on whether the Sounds get a new stadium, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said.
The Sounds have served as the Brewers’ top minor league affiliate since 2005. Milwaukee is the sixth different parent club of the Sounds, who have played all their games in 34-year-old Greer Stadium.
“We are pleased to extend our working agreement with the Sounds,” Melvin said in a release. “While the current facility and conditions are not totally satisfactory, we remain loyal and are very supportive of the ownership and Frank Ward in his continued efforts to get a much-needed new park. As general manager of a Major League franchise, I totally believe in this ownership, and if we can get the same support from the city, Nashville will be one of the most desirable franchises in minor league baseball.”
The Sounds finished the 2012 season more than a week ago. They compiled a 67-77 record to finish second in the Northern Division of the American Conference in the Pacific Coast League. In eight years of affiliation with the Brewers, the Sounds are 589-559 with five winning seasons, three playoff appearances and won the PCL title in 2005.
“We are pleased to continue our relationship with the Brewers,” co-owner Frank Ward said. “They are an organization that produces quality major leaguers through their minor league system, and we are looking forward to watching Milwaukee's next tier of stars continue to develop in Music City.”