ANAHEIM -- A relationship between the Mariners and their Triple-A affiliate Tacoma that started in 1995 will now extend at least another four years, as the two clubs announced an extension of their player development contract on Thursday.
Tacoma's previous contract with the Mariners was expiring at the end of this season, but now has been extended through 2022.
"The relationship between the Mariners and Rainiers has been a staple of baseball in the Pacific Northwest since 1995," said Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto. "While we are two franchises, we remain one baseball family and couldn't be more thankful for our terrific partners in Tacoma. We fully believe this is simply the next chapter in what will soon be a quarter-century of tradition."
In 24 seasons as the Mariners' top Minor League affiliate, the Rainiers have posted a 1,741-1,690 record while winning five division titles, three conference championships and two Pacific Coast League titles.
The Mariners also benefit from having such a close proximity to their Triple-A club, allowing for players to be recalled to Seattle on short notice when needed and for Puget Sound-area fans to watch both the big league club and its top prospects.
"This has always been a great relationship," Rainiers owner Mikal Thomsen said. "Our fans in Tacoma and I are all Mariners fans, so it is a natural thing to follow players on both teams from the fan standpoint. On the business side, the Mariners -- to a person and as an organization -- have been great to work with, and we look forward to maintaining this affiliation far into the future."
The Mariners' current 38-man active roster features 22 players who have spent time with the Rainiers, including 17 who spent time with Tacoma this year. There were 29 Mariners Minor League players who appeared in games for both Seattle and Tacoma this season.
The 2018 Rainiers finished third in the PCL's Pacific Northern Division with a 66-73 record. The Mariners informed Pat Listach earlier this week that his contract will not be renewed after four seasons as Tacoma's manager.