Major Changes to New York Yankees Minor League Affiliates

NOVEMBER 6, 2020 : Big news broke today on the status of multiple New York Yankees minor league affiliates. Starting with the 2021 season, gone will be the AA-level Trenton Thunder, replaced by the central-New Jersey based Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League. The Class A Charleston RiverDogs will also be ending their relationship with the Yankees, replaced by the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League. There is also talk of the Class A Short Season affiliate Staten Island Yankees being removed as well. The Rookie-Level Pulaski Yankees will also get the axe in 2021.

If you can’t beat ’em, take their farm team! The Hudson Valley Renegades were previously affiliated with the Tampa Rays since 1996. They will be based in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. The Class AA Patriots will be based in Bridgewater Township, NJ. They were a founding member of the Atlantic League in 1998, and have won more league titles than any other organization.

The Trenton Thunder were part of the Yankees family since 2003, and have won four straight Eastern Division titles (2016-19) in the Eastern League. The RiverDogs have been the Bombers’ Class-A affiliate since 2005.

The AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will remain in the Yankees system, while the Tampa Tarpons will be designated to Low A ball from Advanced A, and the Dominican Summer League will remain unchanged.

It’s not the Yankees alone turning their minor league system upside down — it’s a decision based on an agreement by Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball to reduce the amount of minor league affiliates. The Yankees will reduce their total from nine to six.

Trenton and Staten Island Clubs Rip Yankees for Ending Partnerships

UPDATE — November 9, 2020 : The big club was blasted by both Trenton Thunder owner Joseph Plumeri and Staten Island Yankees for both the decision to abandon the minor league affiliates and the manner in which it was done. Both said they learned of the decision through social media. See ‘Staten Island Yankees ‘shocked’ big-league team dumped them“. Also: “‘Betrayed’ Trenton Thunder Owner Calls Yankees ‘Despicable’.”