Major League Baseball has a plan in place to eliminate a total of 42 minor league teams over the next two years. The Angels have two affiliates that would be affected by this reduction, the Low Single-A Burlington Bees and the Rookie League (Short Season) Orem Owlz. MLB has a formula that supposedly determined the teams being cut. It was based on financial stability of the affiliate, the stadium and its facilities and location of the team (market size).
Burlington, which is located in Iowa, is part of the Midwest League, is one of the smallest markets of any minor league team across the country, the stadium is one of the oldest of any affiliate as well, and it still has wooden fences.