Portland Beavers Extend Development Contract with San Diego Padres Through 2008 Season - PCL Baseball

MLN Newswire - PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Beavers and San Diego Padres have signed a two-year Player Development Contract (PDC) extension through the 2008 season, it was announced today.

The announcement was made jointly by Beavers President and General Manager John Cunningham and Padres Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Grady Fuson.

"We are very pleased about extending our Player Development Contract with Portland," Fuson said. "The 2007-08 seasons will be our seventh and eighth years with Portland, and the organization has become part of the Padres family. The ownership group in Portland, along with the staff in San Diego, has stepped up to make this a successful and fruitful affiliation for all parties involved."

The two-year extension continues a partnership that was established in 2001, Portland’s first year back in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. The clubs signed a two-year extension to their original working agreement following the 2004 season.

In six seasons as San Diego’s top affiliate, the Beavers are 432-423 (.505). Under the Padres guidance, the Beavers posted the best record in Triple-A Baseball in 2004 on their way to a division championship and a berth in the PCL playoffs.

Since the 2001 season, the first year of the original four-year PDC between the two teams, the Beavers have produced a number of top organizational prospects, including Josh Barfield, Jason Bay, Sean Burroughs, Cesar Carrillo, Khalil Greene, Clay Hensley, Freddy Guzman, Ben Johnson, George Kottaras, Paul McAnulty, Xavier Nady, Tim Stauffer, Mike Thompson and Jared Wells.

"We greatly value our relationship with Portland as the final stepping stone for our players before they enter into the majors," Padres Executive Vice President and General Manager Kevin Towers said. "Several of our players on the major league roster have reaped the benefits of the great facility and staff, and we look forward to continuing our association for the next two years."

The Beavers and Padres have developed a strong relationship off the field as well, namely through the teams’ Community Outreach Program that dedicates resources and energy to philanthropic programs in the Portland area throughout the year.

“We have enjoyed a tremendous partnership with the Padres,” Cunningham said. “With a steady stream of top prospects coming through Portland each season, the Padres consistently have provided competitive teams for us over the last six years. But more importantly, the Padres commitment to our extensive outreach program has created a strong and meaningful bond between the organization and the community.”

During the season, Beavers and Padres players and staff make a positive impact on community values by initiating numerous visits to area hospitals, youth camps, libraries and schools. The Beavers and Padres provide opportunities for youth and charity organizations to attend games and offer additional opportunities through the shared outreach goals outlined each year by the two organizations.