THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 7, 1994 TAG: 9409070600
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
The three-year working agreement signed last week by the New York Mets and the Norfolk Tides ensures that all but one International League team will maintain its present affiliation for at least the next two seasons.
The Charlotte Knights have yet to re-sign with the Cleveland Indians and are one of seven Triple-A franchises still playing the market.
Charlotte owner George Shinn is trying to buy the Pittsburgh Pirates. If he is successful, he would move to bring the Pirates' Triple-A team, in Buffalo since 1988, to Charlotte, a club spokesman said. Owning one major league club and running another's Triple-A affiliate would be awkward, to say the least, from the standpoint of conflict of interest.
The danger is that if Shinn is unsuccessful, Cleveland, which has had a very successful relationship with Charlotte, might be lost in the interim. The Knights won the league title last season and are playing Richmond in the IL West Division playoffs.
Unaffiliated teams have until Sept. 25 to find Triple-A homes. Clubs still in need of affiliates after that date would be assigned cities by joint recommendation of the major and minor leagues.
``We would like to have the Indians back, but you've got to be realistic and know that Cleveland has got to be looking to sign with someone, too,'' said Karl Lyles, the Knights' director of media relations. ``So they may not be available.''
Cleveland is one of seven major league clubs yet to sign a new working agreement. The others are the Florida Marlins, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros and Pirates.
All but Pittsburgh have Triple-A affiliates in the Pacific Coast League. The Pirates, of the American Association, have played in Buffalo's hugely successful Pilot Field since 1988.
Helping to secure new working agreements in Syracuse and Rochester was the promise of a new stadium in each city. Syracuse, which has been affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays since 1978, and Rochester, Baltimore's affiliate since 1961, plan to move into new ballparks for the 1996 season. by CNB