Red Sox To Cut Lowell Spinners As Minor League Affiliate

LOWELL, MA — The Red Sox officially cut the Lowell Spinners from their minor league farm system, the team announced Wednesday, as part of a league-wide minor league reorganization.

All MLB teams were required to cut their minor league affiliates to four teams, and the short season single A Spinners ended up on the chopping block — as the MLB wanted, over a year ago. Teams were not allowed to reveal their picks until Wednesday.

The Sox are keeping the AAA Worcester and AA Portland Red Sox as well as the high A Greenville Drive and the single A Salem Red Sox.

The Spinners could regain their affiliation with Boston in the future, and the Red Sox are working on keeping baseball in Lowell, they said. The Red Sox said in a news release Wednesday that they are looking at "evaluating various opportunities" for the 2021 season.

Team officials and the city have been joined in their effort to save the team by a number of local politicians, including Rep. Lori Trahan, Sen. Ed Markey and Gov. Charlie Baker. Trahan and other members of congress launched the Save Minor League Baseball task force last fall, when the MLB announced its minor league contraction plans.

"For over a year, we have worked with Congresswoman Trahan, Lowell City manager Eileen Donoghue, Major League Baseball and Lowell Spinners ownership to examine every option that would keep baseball in the City of Lowell," Red Sox President Sam Kennedy said. "We are exploring what form that could take in 2021, and are committed to maintaining the 24-year-long tradition of baseball in the Lowell community."

Aside from any options the Red Sox put forward, the Spinners could end up in the new MLB "Draft League," which is being pitched as a showcase league for top draft prospects, or as part of an independent league.

The Spinners have been in Lowell since 1996, and have seen future Red Sox World Series champions like Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Mookie Betts, who won the American League's 2018 Most Valuable Player award.

From 1999 to August 30, 2010, the team sold out every ticket to every home game, believed to be a record.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.