MILWAUKEE -- After the Brewers extended their affiliation with Double-A Biloxi through 2020, farm director Tom Flanagan expressed optimism about striking a similar agreement with the team's advanced Class A club, which will be on the move later this year.
The Brevard County Manatees will have a new name before they begin playing home games at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., in 2017. The Brewers' current player development contract (PDC) with that franchise ends at the end of this season.
"We're hopeful to be back there," Flanagan said. "It's been a good relationship."
The Brewers have been affiliated with Brevard County since 2005, and that team has been a preferred destination for rehabbing Brewers pitchers. The franchise announced its move to Kissimmee on Friday.
Osceola County Stadium was available because the Astros are moving their Spring Training operation, and their rookie-level Gulf Coast League club, to a shared facility with the Nationals in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The Brewers will know by September whether they are making the move to Kissimmee along with the Manatees.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee's Double-A situation gained some additional stability Thursday, when the Brewers and Shuckers announced a two-year extension of their PDC, which now runs through 2020. The Brewers moved with that franchise from Huntsville, Ala., to Biloxi, Miss., last year, and gave Biloxi a prospect-rich team that reached the Southern League Championship Series.
The Brewers' PDC with Triple-A Colorado Springs is also up at the end of this season. Rookie Helena is under contract through 2018, and Class A Wisconsin through 2020.