Mail Call

The latest M's Mailbag is up over at the Mariner Website. Here is the one Rattler related question and answer.

Since Kenji Johjima isn't going anywhere soon, and both Jamie Burke and Jeff Clement proved themselves last year, what are the chances of seeing Clement play some first base this year to get him more playing time?
-- Sam T., Spokane, Wash.

Heading into Spring Training, Clement will concentrate on improving his catching skills and continuing his progress as a hitter, which is Major League caliber as it is. There are no plans at the moment to play him at first base during the Cactus League season or in the regular season. The organization must decide whether Clement would be better off playing every day in the Minor Leagues in 2008 or playing part-time with the Mariners. It could be a tough call.

This isn't a Rattler related Q & A, but it's a question that I get a lot. So, here is an answer without a lot of ums, ahs, and ers.

Could you please explain the relationship Minor League teams have with Major League teams? I always thought it odd when my local Minor League team (Vancouver Canadians) would change Major League affiliations every few years. Who makes these decisions and why change?
-- Yosh K., Vancouver, British Columbia

A Major League club may affiliate with a Minor League club only through ownership or a standard player development contract (PDC). Standard PDCs may be signed for periods of two or four years. When a PDC is due to expire, both parties can terminate the PDC and seek a new affiliation. Years ago, when an MLB club sought a new affiliation, it was usually a matter of seeking a better Minor League ballpark. Now that the overwhelming majority of Minor League clubs are in premier facilities (due to the implementation of Minor League Facility Standards in 1991), the most prevalent reason for an MLB club to change an affiliation is geographical proximity to their other Minor League affiliates.

Minor League clubs seek new affiliations for a variety of reasons, including the perceived depth of a Major League club's Minor League system and the fan base in the Minor League city.