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The Yankees have informed the management of the Columbus Clippers that they intend to find a new Triple-A affiliate, the latest sign of Brian Cashman’s increased power.
Columbus has been the Yankees’ Triple-A home for 28 years because of George Steinbrenner’s connections, having grown up in the Cleveland suburbs and a longtime Ohio State supporter.
But the Clippers’ stadium is widely regarded as the worst in the International League, and although a new stadium has been in the works for a while, it is not expected to be ready until 2009.
Cashman refused to comment yesterday, but Clippers GM Ken Schnacke told The Columbus Dispatch today that Yankee officials told the team about their intentions more than a week ago.
The Yankees undoubtedly are looking to move their top-level affiliate closer to the Metropolitan area, which will help to shuttle players, in addition to significantly upgraded facilities. One possibility is Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Phillies’ Triple-A home from 1989 until this season, which will be their last. Their plans to move to Allentown after a year in Ottawa have been widely reported.
Many current Yankees stopped in Columbus, from Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Mariano Rivera to Chien-Ming Wang, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano.
