Lake Monsters renew deal with Nats

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Lake Monsters renew deal with Nats
09/17/2008 11:49 AM ET
Vermont Lake Monsters

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- The Vermont Lake Monsters and Washington Nationals have reached an agreement to extend their Player Development Contract (PDC) for two more years through the 2010 season, the Lake Monsters are pleased to announce today.
The extension means that the Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos) will remain the only Major League franchise that the Lake Monsters have been affiliated with since Vermont joined the New York-Penn League back in 1994. The partnership, which will be 17 years when the new PDC runs out in 2010, is the longest of any team in the New York-Penn League.
"The Lake Monsters are very happy to announce the extension of our PDC with the Nationals," Vermont General Manager C.J. Knudsen said. "The organization has shown a commitment to rebuilding its farm system and in 2008 they were among the best."
The Nationals Minor League system was very successful during the 2008 season with Single-A Potomac winning the Carolina League and the Gulf Coast League Nationals losing in the GCL Championship Series. Washington's Minor League teams combined to go 432-405 (.516), the ninth-best winning percentage among the 30 Major League teams. (Nationals had been #25 in 2007, #28 in 2006 and # 30 in 2005).
54 Vermont players have gone on to play in the Major Leagues, including 40 that made their Major League debut with either Montreal or Washington.