Toronto Blue Jays finalize minor league affiliate locations

The Toronto Blue Jays finalized their minor league affiliate locations for the upcoming 2021 season, the team also cut ties with Lansing and Bluefield.

The Blue Jays have reported that Buffalo, New Hampshire, Vancouver, and Dunedin will be their official minor league affiliates moving forward. Dunedin will become their Low-A affiliate as the team cuts their farm down from six to four teams as part of the MLB revamping.

In October it was reported that Vancouver may become the Oakland Athletics affiliate, however, thankfully the Canadian-based High-A team will remain with the Toronto organization. Instead, the Lansing Lugnuts will actually switch over to the Athletics Midwest League affiliate.

The minor league structure will remain the same for the most part especially at the higher ranks with Buffalo (Triple-A), New Hampshire (Double-A), Vancouver (High-A), and Dunedin (Low-A) rounding out the new structure.

Much is still uncertain in regards to the 2021 MiLB season due to the pandemic, however, the locations are at least defined. Buffalo was the MLB home of the Jays last season and that could be the case once again in 2021 as strict border restrictions still remain in place in Canada.

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The Blue Jays remain hopeful that the vaccine will alleviate the spread of the virus and the team can return north of the border for the upcoming season. The situation is an ever-changing fluid situation that will in all likelihood not be finalized until closer to the actual season.

Bluefield is the other location the Jays cut ties with as a result of the reshuffling. There has been no official word as of yet if Bluefield will latch on to another MLB organization at this time. They were formerly the High-A Appalachian League affiliate and 14-time League Champions.

This is just another on the long list of Commissioner Rob Manfred’s proposed changes and alterations to the game of baseball under his watch.