Nats extend two Class A teams

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals announced they have signed two-year extensions with Class A Hagerstown and Class A Short-Season Vermont.

By renewing with Hagerstown, the Nationals remain in the 16-team South Atlantic League. The Suns joined the South Atlantic League in 1993 and play in 4,600-seat Municipal Stadium. The Nationals and Suns aligned for the first time in 2007.

The Nationals franchise's 15-year relationship with the town of Burlington, Vt. -- which began in 1994 and will now extend at least through the 2010 season -- is the longest in the New York-Penn League.

"Every organization seeks stability and familiarity within their player-development system and we have that in Hagerstown and Burlington," assistant general manager Bob Boone said. "We look forward to furthering our relationships with both organizations and both towns."

At 432-405, the Nationals' Minor League system posted a winning record in 2008. The .516 winning percentage ranked ninth among baseball's 30 franchises.