The downsizing and shuffling of Minor League Baseball led to uprooting or dropping affiliates throughout the game, but the Cardinals were largely able to avoid the drama because of their ownership stakes in affiliates and regional structure to their farm system.
The Cardinals will have their same four top affiliates, headlined by Memphis at Class AAA and Springfield, Mo., as their Class AA club.
They have also invited Peoria to remain an affiliate, and Palm Beach, Fla., will remain an affiliate. Those two teams will swap levels, however, as the Florida State League shifts to Low-A. If Peoria accepts the invitation to be an affiliate, as expected, that would give the Cardinals their top three affiliates all within an afternoon drive of Busch Stadium.