Miracle, Twins sign new contract

By Naples Daily News staff

The Minnesota Twins signed a new four-year player development contract to keep their Single-A team in Fort Myers, team officials announced Thursday.

The current agreement between the Twins and the Goldklang Group, which owns the Miracle, expired at the end of the 2004 season.

The two sides had been working on a new contract for months.

"We're really glad it got taken care of," said Miracle assistant general manager Andrew Seymour. "It's a great thing for the area."

The agreement comes two months after the Twins and Lee County reached a 10-year extension on their spring training agreement that will run through 2020.

It also means there will be stability at Hammond Stadium for years to come, unlike other Florida State League cities.

In the last month, the Milwaukee Brewers have taken over operations at Brevard County while the Cincinnati Reds will have a Florida State League team in Sarasota next year after the Boston Red Sox bolted for the South Atlantic League.

The Twins organization has always taken pride on moving "home grown" talent throughout their organization.

That has never been more evident than this season with Joe Mauer, J.D. Durbin, Jason Kubel and Jesse Crain wearing Twins jerseys, all four were in Miracle jersey's in 2003. More than half the current Twins roster played in Fort Myers at some point in the last seven years.

"The Twins and Miracle have worked side-by-side for 13 years and we look forward to many more successful seasons to come," said Miracle President Linda McNabb. "The Twins and Miracle both take pride in helping the community, believe in family affordable fun and our organizations work together in providing the best product for Southwest Florida fans."

Fort Myers recently had been reported as being looked into as a possible site for a Tampa Bay Devil Rays Class A team. The Devil Rays instead signed an agreement with Visalia in the California League.