51s might switch to affiliation with Mets

Brought together in a shotgun marriage in 2008, the 51s and Toronto Blue Jays renewed their vows in 2010 with a second Player Development Contract, but the teams could be headed for a divorce after this season.

The Buffalo Bisons - the only International League team without a major league affiliation for next season - appear intent on ending their four-year partnership with the New York Mets and aligning with Toronto, which is a mere 90 minutes away.

"We have such a great relationship with the Blue Jays, but we kind of understand (Buffalo is) the hot girlfriend and we may not be so attractive," Las Vegas general manager Chuck Johnson said. "We understand if they're going to go, they may have their eyes opened to move back East."

If, as expected, every other Pacific Coast League team renews its current affiliation, the Mets would have no choice but to partner with Las Vegas and vice versa.

Major League rules prevent organizations from speaking to other affiliates about a new Player Development Contract (PDC) before Sept. 16 - the start of a 15-day negotiating window - but Bisons manager Wally Backman recently told the Buffalo News he expects the Mets' relationship with Buffalo to end after this season.

"I would guess that's true," Backman said. "It's a shame for us, really. Buffalo is a great city but I don't envision us coming back, from the things I've heard from the grapevine."

Charlie Wilson, the Blue Jays' director of minor league operations, dismissed the speculation and said Toronto might renew its agreement with Las Vegas.

"Right now, we haven't even addressed the PDC situation. We'll talk about it after the season's over," he said. "What I can tell you is we have a great relationship with the Las Vegas 51s, from the management on down. We'd be very happy to stay there and remain there in future years."

Las Vegas was affiliated with the San Diego Padres from 1983 to 2000 and with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001 to 2008. The Dodgers left for Albuquerque, N.M., because it had a more modern ballpark and better player amenities than Cashman Field.

"The honest truth is right now we're in a 30-year-old stadium with no player amenities and because of that we're going to be at a disadvantage," Johnson said.

Until or unless a new park is built for the 51s, the team will probably continue to be the last one standing in the biannual Triple-A shuffle and partner with whichever big league team remains. That team likely will be from the East Coast, as there are more Triple-A affiliates than big league teams on the West Coast.

"Someone's always going to have a disenfranchised, geographically unsatisfactory team," Johnson said.

Stevens Baseball Group, which owns the 51s, is having ongoing discussions with prospective buyers for the team.

The Mets were affiliated with Norfolk, Va., (as Tidewater) from 1969 to 2006 and New Orleans in 2007 and 2008 before partnering with Buffalo in 2009.

The Bisons - in last place this season with a 64-74 record and 257-311 overall as New York's affiliate - reportedly want to sever the relationship because they're tired of losing.

"Buffalo's a very competitive town. They like to win," 51s manager Marty Brown said. "They don't handle losing easily in Buffalo."

Brown managed the Bisons from 2003 to 2005, when they were the Indians' affiliate and Blue Jays manager John Farrell was Cleveland's farm director. Brown led the Bisons to the International League title in 2004 and the playoffs in 2005.

In his second season with the 51s (75-61), Brown has them on track for their best record since 2002, the last time Las Vegas went to the playoffs. The 51s - 283-285 since pairing with Toronto - also will snap a string of 11 straight losing seasons by the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate.

■ NOTE - 51s shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria was voted to the All-Pacific Coast League team by the league's managers and media. Recalled by Toronto on Sunday, Hechavarria is hitting .312 for Las Vegas this season, with a team-leading 63 RBIs and 78 runs scored. ... Monday's crowd of 3,863 pushed the 51s' season attendance to 300,587, putting them over 300,000 for the 30th consecutive year.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.