Atlanta Braves have tentative deal to buy Hillcats

BallparkDigest.com

As many expected: the Atlanta Braves have a conditional deal to buy the Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League), in anticipation of moving the team to Wilmington, N.C.

The deal is conditional on a new ballpark being built in Wilmington, N.C., as part of a larger waterfront retail/hotel/marina complex. The city voted last night to enter into an exclusive negotiating period for a new ballpark with the Braves and Mandalay Baseball Properties.

Atlanta currently owns and operates teams at the Triple-A (Gwinnett), Double-A (Mississippi), Low Class A (Rome) and rookie (Danville) levels; all that's missing is a High Class A team.