Update – August 18, 2016

On his Twitter account today, Twins President Dave St. Peter announced the Minnesota Twins and the Rochester Red Wings have renewed their affiliation agreement:

The @Twins are thrilled to continue player development partnership w/ @RocRedWings. Great franchise owned/operated by great people.

— Dave St. Peter (@TwinsPrez) August 18, 2016

If the Mets are interested in moving their AAA affiliate from Las Vegas to another city there are options still available are Colorado Springs (Brewers), El Paso, (Padres), Fresno (Astros), Lehigh Valley (Phillies), Tacoma (Mariners), or Toledo (Tigers).

Original Post – June 25, 2016

The issues with the Mets affiliation with the Las Vegas 51s have been detailed at length. Cashman Field is an inadequate stadium which has raw sewage leaking onto the field. The Pacific Coast League is an extreme hitter’s league which makes it difficult for the Mets to get a good read on how both their pitching and position player prospects are developing.

Finally, it is a cross-country flight from Las Vegas to New York, which makes it difficult to have a minor league player get to New York on a moment’s notice. In short, the forced marriage is one that has not worked particularly well for the Mets. Sooner or later, the Mets are going to have to find a AAA affiliate which is better suited for the team.

Fortunately, there may soon be an opportunity. As the Democrat and Chronicle reports, General Manager Terry Ryan’s firing has cast some doubt over whether the Rochester Red Wings will be willing to extend their partnership with the Minnesota Twins beyond this season.

Their COO Naomi Silver stated, “We’ll certainly want to see what they (the Twins) do. It’s far too soon to make a decision. We’re not an organization that quickly jumps to conclusions and the Twins are an organization we’ve appreciated and admired.” It should be noted that much of that appreciation and admiration was driven by Ryan, as Silver stated, “We thought nothing but the best of Terry Ryan, but I also understand how the Twins have to do something when they’re in this situation.”

This gives the Mets an opportunity to make a move here. The major selling point is obviously the depth of the Mets farm system. Right now, the Mets have Gabriel Ynoa, Robert Gsellman, Gavin Cecchini, Dilson Herrera, and Brandon Nimmo in AAA, who are all well regarded prospects.

The team has interesting players like Travis Taijeron who hit for a lot of power, and T.J. Rivera who is having a great year in AAA. This doesn’t even mention Kevin Plawecki who was once regarded as a a major league caliber starting catcher or uber prospect Amed Rosario who should be in AAA within the next year or two.

All of this could entice the Red Wings to change from their affiliation with the Twins to one with the Mets. It could also be enticing to AAA teams in Colorado Springs (Brewers), El Paso, (Padres), Fresno (Astros), Lehigh Valley (Phillies), Tacoma (Mariners), or Toledo (Tigers) whose affiliations are expiring at the end of the year. Ideally, the Mets would like to move to Toldeo, Lehigh Valley, or Rochester. Given how there is a current state of flux with the firing of Terry Ryan, Rochester might just be the Mets chance.

Whatever the rest, the Mets do not want to be on the outside looking in again like they were in 2012 which precipitated their move from Buffalo to Las Vegas for the 2013 season. The Mets are an attractive franchise with attractive prospects. The opportunity is now there to find a more suitable AAA affiliate, and it seems like Rochester might be up for grabs.