Clippers, Nationals team up

When the 2006 season ended, so did the Columbus Clippers' 28-year partnership with the New York Yankees.

Next season will begin a new chapter in Clippers' history. Late Wednesday, the Columbus Baseball Team Inc. (CBTI) announced it had signed a two-year Player Development Contract with the Washington Nationals.

"Throughout this process, we were focused on partnering with a Major League organization that shared our excitement for professional baseball in Franklin County and supported our goals for great baseball entertainment in an affordable family atmosphere," said Clippers president and general manager Ken Schnacke. "The short time it took to secure a first-class franchise is reflective of the community's tradition, future, and outstanding baseball fans."

The Nationals, who also signed a PDC with the Class A Hagerstown Suns, agreed to the deal after visiting Cooper Stadium earlier in the week. The team's previous Triple-A affiliate had been the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Pacific Coast League.

"The Clippers' longstanding history as one of the best Triple-A operations in the country, together with the city of Columbus' reputation as one of America's finest cities, makes Ohio's capital a perfect partner for our team from the nation's capital," said Nationals president Stan Kasten. "The Clippers now become the key players in our new program, which focuses on a reinvigorated player development system."

Schnacke, meanwhile, believes the relationship between the teams can go beyond player development.

"The Nationals' enthusiasm for this partnership will not only be evident in player development but also in our branding and marketing efforts between the two markets," he said. "We look forward to working with them."

In 2008, the Clippers will leave Cooper Stadium for brand new Huntington Park, a 10,000-seat facility at the northwest corner of Nationwide Boulevard and Neil Avenue.