Opening Day 2008 is still over a month away, but the bi-annual farm club shuffle is already underway. Several teams have renewed their player development contract (PDC) for 2009 and beyond. While major league teams cannot begin negotiating with other affiliates until after the season, rumors have already begun to swirl.

Below is a league-by-league update on teams’ PDCs (deals expiring after the 2008 season are in bold).

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE (Triple-A)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 7.

Buffalo Bisons – Indians (PDC expires after 2008 season)
Charlotte Knights – White Sox (2010)
Columbus Clippers – Nationals (2008)
Durham Bulls – Rays (2008)
Gwinnett County – Braves (owned by Atlanta)
Indianapolis Indians – Pirates (2008)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Phillies (2008)
Louisville Bats – Reds (2010)
Norfolk Tides – Orioles (2010)
Pawtucket Red Sox – Red Sox (2010)
Rochester Red Wings – Twins (2008)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees – Yankees (2010)
Syracuse Chiefs – Blue Jays (2008)
Toledo Mud Hens – Tigers (2010)

**It appears likely there will be some movement in the IL. Columbus is set to open a new ballpark in 2009 and there has been speculation that the Indians would be interested in ending a 14-year relationship with Buffalo and moving their affiliate closer to home. Where the Nationals end up remains a question (the Orioles old home in Rochester could be available).

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (Triple-A)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 9.

Albuquerque Isotopes – Marlins (2008)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox – Rockies (2008)
Fresno Grizzlies – Giants (2008)
Iowa Cubs – Cubs (2012)
Las Vegas 51s – Dodgers (2008)
Memphis Redbirds – Cardinals (2008)
Nashville Sounds – Brewers (2010)
New Orleans Zephyrs – Mets (2008)
Oklahoma RedHawks – Rangers (2010)
Omaha Royals – Royals (2008)
Portland Beavers – Padres (2008)
Round Rock Express – Astros (2010)
Sacramento River Cats – Athletics (2010)
Salt Lake Bees – Angels (2012)
Tacoma Rainiers – Mariners (2008)
Tucson Sidewinders – Diamondbacks (2010)*

* This season will be the last for the Sidewinders in Tucson. Groundbreaking on a new ballpark in the team’s 2009 home in Reno began yesterday, and with it came the hardly unexpected announcement that the club will remain a Diamondbacks affiliate through 2010 . . . Of these teams whose PDCs expire after the season, I figured Memphis would be one of the least likely to shop for a new team. I went to Memphis before the start of last season for the Civil Rights Game and the Memphis fanbase certainly seemed passionate about their Cardinals (exhibitions against the Indians were sold out). However a recent report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch stated the Redbirds were frustrated by the lack of talent coming through Memphis in recent seasons–they finished last and second-to-last in the PCL’s Northern Division the last two seasons–and declined offers from St. Louis to renew the deal last fall.

EASTERN LEAGUE (Double-A)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 6.

Akron Aeros – Indians (2008)
Altoona Curve – Pirates (2010)
Binghamton Mets – Mets (2008)
Bowie Baysox – Orioles (2010)
Connecticut Defenders – Giants (2008)
Erie SeaWolves – Detroit (2010)
Harrisburg Senators – Nationals (2010)
New Britain Rock Cats – Twins (2008)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats – Blue Jays (2012)
Portland Sea Dogs – Red Sox (2012)
Reading Phillies – Phillies (2008)
Trenton Thunder – Yankees (2008)

Though this does not necessarily affect a PDC, Eastern League clubs seem to headline rumors of teams considering a move to Richmond in 2009. In particular Erie has often been rumored on the way out of town, however the SeaWolves have re-upped with the Tigers and the local stadium authority through 2010. Have to figure that puts them out of the running.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Double-A)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 7

Birmingham Barons – White Sox (2010)
Carolina Mudcats – Marlins (2008)
Chattanooga Lookouts – Reds (2008)
Huntsville Stars – Brewers (2008)
Jacksonville Suns – Dodgers (2008)
Mississippi Braves – Braves (owned by Atlanta)
Mobile BayBears – Arizona (2008)
Montgomery Biscuits – Rays (2008)
Tennessee Smokies – Cubs (2012)
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx – Mariners (2008)

TEXAS LEAGUE (Double-A)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 3

Arkansas Travelers – Angels (2008)
Corpus Christi Hooks – Astros (2010)
Frisco RoughRiders – Rangers (2010)
Midland RockHounds – Athletics (2012)
San Antonio Missions – Padres (2008)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals – Royals (2008)
Springfield Cardinals – Cardinals (owned by St. Louis)
Tulsa Drillers – Rockies (2010)

Corpus Christi was the latest team to renew its PDC when it, and Ryan-Sanders owned Round Rock re-signed with the Astros a couple of weeks ago. Arkansas has a brand new, state-of-the-art ballpark and the Angels have plenty of prospects on the rise, so I would imagine those teams are happy with their arrangement. Northwest Arkansas unveils a new stadium this season and, like the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Omaha, is but roughly three hours from the parent club Royals.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (HiA)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 8

Bakersfield Blaze – Rangers (2010)
High Desert Mavericks – Mariners (2008)
Lake Elsinore Storm – Padres (2008)
Lancaster JetHawks – Red Sox (2008)
Modesto Nuts – Rockies (2008)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – Angels (2010)
Inland Empire 66ers – Dodgers (2008)
San Jose Giants – Giants (2008)
Stockton Ports – Athletics (2008)
Visalia Oaks – Diamondbacks (2008)

It is safe to say the Red Sox won’t be back in Lancaster in 2009. The World Series champs bought Carolina League affiliate Salem last summer with the intention of setting up shop in the Roanoke Valley for years to come. So who blows into Lancaster?

CAROLINA LEAGUE (HiA)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 6

Frederick Keys – Orioles (2010)
Kinston Indians – Indians (2008)
Lynchburg Hillcats – Pirates (2008)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans – Braves (2008)
Potomac Nationals – Nationals (2010)
Salem Avalanche – Astros (2008)
Wilmington Blue Rocks – Royals (2008)
Winston-Salem Warthogs – White Sox (2008)

Will the Astros be enamored with high winds of Lancaster? Will the JetHawks be turned off by the Astros’ shortage of prospects?

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE (HiA)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 1

Brevard County Manatees – Brewers (2010)
Clearwater Threshers – Phillies (owned by Philadelphia)
Daytona Cubs – Cubs (2012)
Dunedin Blue Jays – Blue Jays (owned by Toronto)
Fort Myers Miracle – Twins (2008)
Jupiter Hammerheads – Marlins (owned by Florida)
Lakeland Flying Tigers – Tigers (owned by Detroit)
Palm Beach Cardinals – Cardinals (owned by St. Louis)
St. Lucie Mets – Mets (owned by New York)
Sarasota Reds – Reds (owned by Cincinnati)
Tampa Yankees – Yankees (owned by New York)
Vero Beach Devil Rays – Tampa Bay (owned by the Dodgers)

The shape of the FSL may change after this season. Ripken Baseball is rumored to be in negotiations to purchase Vero Beach from the Dodgers and partner with the Rays in moving to the team to a new ballpark in Port Charlotte.

MIDWEST LEAGUE (LoA)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 7.

Beloit Snappers – Twins (2010)
Burlington Bees – Royals (2010)
Cedar Rapids Kernels -Angels (2010)
Clinton Lumber Kings – Rangers (2008)
Dayton Dragons – Reds (2008)
Fort Wayne Wizards – Padres (2008)
Great Lakes Loons – Dodgers (2008)
Kane County Cougars – Athletics (2008)
Lansing Lugnuts – Blue Jays (2010)
Peoria Chiefs – Cubs (2012)
Quad Cities River Bandits – Cardinals (2010)
South Bend Silver Hawks – Diamondbacks (2008)
West Michigan Whitecaps – Tigers (2010)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – Mariners (2008)

SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE (LoA)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 11

Asheville Tourists – Rockies (2008)
Augusta GreenJackets – Giants (2008)
Charleston Riverdogs – Yankees (2008)
Columbus Catfish – Tampa Bay (2008)
Delmarva Shorebirds – Orioles (2010)
Greensboro Grasshoppers – Marlins (2008)
Greenville Drive – Red Sox (2012)
Hagerstown Suns – Nationals (2008)
Hickory Crawdads – Pirates (2008)
Kannapolis Intimidators – White Sox (2010)
Lake County Captains – Indians (2010)
Lakewood Blue Claws – Phillies (2008)
Lexington Legends – Astros (2008)
Rome Braves – Braves (owned by Atlanta)
Savannah Sand Gnats – Mets (2008)
West Virginia Power – Brewers (2008)

New for 2009: The Bowling Green Catfish?

NEW YORK-PENN (Rookie)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 8

Aberdeen IronBirds – Orioles (2010)
Auburn Doubledays – Blue Jays (2010)
Batavia Muckdogs – Cardinals (2008)
Brooklyn Cyclones – Mets (owned by New York)
Hudson Valley Renegades – Rays (2008)
Jamestown Jammers – Marlins (2008)
Lowell Spinners – Red Sox (2008)
Mahoning Valley Scrappers – Indians (2008)
Oneonta Tigers – Tigers (2010)
State College Spikes – Pirates (2010)
Staten Island Yankees – Yankees (owned by New York/Mandalay)
Tri-City ValleyCats – Astros (2008)
Vermont Lake Monsters – Nationals (2008)
Williamsport Crosscutters – Phillies (2008)

NORTHWEST LEAGUE (Rookie)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 6

Boise Hawks – Cubs (2010)
Eugene Emeralds – Padres (2008)
Everett AquaSox – Mariners (2008)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes – Giants (2008)
Spokane Indians – Rangers (2008)
Tri-City Dust Devils – Rockies (2008)
Vancouver Canadians – Athletics (2010)
Yakima Bears – Diamondbacks (2008)

PIONEER LEAGUE (Rookie)
PDCs expiring after 2008 season: 3

Billings Mustangs – Reds (2010)
Casper Ghosts – Rockies (2008)
Great Falls Voyagers – White Sox (2010)
Helena Brewers – Brewers (2008)
Idaho Falls Chukars – Royals (2008)
Missoula Osprey – Diamondbacks (2010)
Ogden Raptors – Dodgers (2010)
Orem Owlz – Angels (2012)