Rockies' Double-A affiliate options down to Mobile, New Britain

The Colorado Rockies' Double-A squad will not be returning to Tulsa in 2015, with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead preparing to announce a new player development contract with the Drillers, according to True Blue LA's Eric Stephen.

The move was expected, but it officially leaves the Rockies without a Double-A affiliation. The Dodgers' former club, the Chattanooga Lookouts, are expected to announce a partnership with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, leaving Mobile, Ala. and New Britain, Conn. as the only potential destinations for the Rockies' operation.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, whose Double-A team was housed in Mobile through this season, are the only other club looking for an affiliate. If they decide to renew with the Mobile Bay Bears, the Rockies would be left to sign an agreement with the New Britain Rock Cats, who were the Twins' Double-A affiliate since 1995.

The Rockies' top choice was Chattanooga and that appeared to be the likely destination for a while, according to a source, but it certainly doesn't appear to be the case any longer.

The Drillers were the Rockies' Double-A affiliate since 2003.

In addition to the Rockies' search for a new Double-A city, the team is also likely to switch Short Season-A affiliates, which would end their 22-year partnership with the Tri-City Dust Devils. When the Dust Devils began their agreement with Colorado, they were known as the Bend Rockies, who in 1992 became the first team ever fielded by the organization.

We'll have more as it unfolds.