WASHINGTON -- The Nationals have signed a two-year extension through the 2020 season with their Double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators, the club announced Tuesday.
The Nationals have been affiliated with Harrisburg for each of Washington's 14 seasons, and Harrisburg's relationship with the franchise extends back to the days with the Expos. The 2018 season will be their 28th together, and was scheduled to be the final season of that contract before this extension.
"We are thrilled to be extending our relationship with not only the Harrisburg Senators organization, but with the entire community of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania," assistant general manager Doug Harris said in a statement. "They have shown tremendous dedication to helping groom our organization's next wave of Major League talent."
This move keeps one of the Nats' affiliates close to the Major League team, considering that Washington and Harrisburg are only about 120 miles apart. And it's one less thing for the Nationals to worry about as they try to find a new Triple-A affiliate after this season. Washington's current team, the Syracuse Chiefs, was purchased by the New York Mets this past October, so the Nationals are already looking for a replacement at that level.
One of the Nats' priorities in finding the next Triple-A affiliate will be proximity to Washington, a key for teams in order to get Minor League players to the Majors quickly in emergency situations. The Nats have a few teams on the East Coast they will target for their Triple-A club.