River Cats likely to end Triple-A affiliation with Athletics

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Sacramento River Cats have filed to end their 15-year Triple-A affiliation with the Oakland Athletics. Slusser reports that the Nashville Sounds are the most likely to become Oakland's new Triple-A affiliate. Nashville, like Sacramento, plays in the Pacific Coast League, and is currently the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Sounds will be opening a new ballpark in Nashville next season.

According to Slusser, other Pacific Coast League teams filing to end their affiliations with their current clubs are Fresno (San Francisco Giants), Albuquerque (Los Angeles Dodgers), Colorado Springs (Colorado Rockies), and Oklahoma City (Houston Astros).

According to Jim Crandell of KTXL FOX40, the River Cats have not formally cut ties with the Athletics, as re-affiliation decisions cannot begin until Tuesday, September 16. Today's filings, formally speaking, are more of an announcement that they intend to explore options for re-affiliation, which could include returning to the Athletics.