Angels switch Class-A affiliates from Cedar Rapids to Burlington Bees

The Los Angeles Angels have announced they will switch the home of their Class-A minor league team next season. According to an official release, the team will move from Cedar Rapids to become the Burlington Bees. The franchise had spent the last 20 years in Cedar Rapids.

"The Angels have long viewed Scouting and Player Development as the backbone of our organization," said Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto. "We maintain an organizational commitment to building excellence at both the Major and minor league levels, while placing a high value on strong communities and affiliations in the process. With this in mind we are excited to welcome the good people of Burlington to the Angels family, while looking forward to a long and successful partnership."

The Angels have historically done well with developing their homegrown players, especially in recent years with hitters such as Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo. This being said, the farm system is drying up a bit due to trades and a handful of players graduating to the big leagues.

"We are extremely excited about our new relationship with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim," said Bees General Manager Chuck Brockett. "Jerry Dipoto and Scott Servais (Assistant General Manager) have a great reputation around baseball. Not only do they develop top-notch minor league systems, but they also strive to develop a long-lasting relationship in their minor league communities."

Opening day in the Minor Leagues is schedule for April 2013.