There are 42 teams on the chopping block as part of Major League Baseball’s controversial proposal to overhaul the landscape of its minor leagues, including the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Padres’ affiliate in the Northwest League.
Needless to say, there’s quite a bit of anxiety surrounding the Dust Devils as their front office makes the 900-mile trek from eastern Washington to San Diego for the annual winter meetings, which begin Sunday.
“It’s shocking; it’s disappointing,” said Brent Miles, president of the Dust Devils and a 26-year veteran of minor league baseball. “But quite frankly, I think about 160 employees and the 87,000 fans who come to our games annually.