Something Old, Something New, Something Used

Two New Owners Join the MBL

This week marked a transition in the history of the League with the departures of Peter Spellos and Mark Hetterich. As a result, David Yamin sold his Devil Rays and has assumed the abandoned New York Yankees franchise effective immediately.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, which relocated to Florida last season after several years in Detroit, are headed back home to Comerica Park under the ownership of Nat Bailey. Nat owned the Tigers for a few years in the early 2000s and will steward the kitties from his home in Cologne, Germany. Jack Buchanan will act as General Manager on his behalf. The Tigers will not use the designater hitter in their home games.

The storied San Francisco Giants will meet the same fate as the Devil Rays. Under the ownership of Pat Manis, the Giants will relocate to Los Angeles and assume control of the Angels. The Los Angeles Angels will relocate to the National League's Gateway Division, and will not use the DH rule; the Detroit Tigers will move to the American League's Rivals Division. The ghost of Dennis Nicholsen beckons!

Under terms of the relocation, Detroit and Los Angeles will assume control of the 2006 Tampa Bay and San Francisco rookie classes, and then take control of their new franchise's rookies in 2007.