CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Power will begin finding out which major league baseball teams are willing to play ball.

Today is the first day minor league teams can begin contacting and negotiating player-development contracts with major league affiliates for the 2009 season.

The Power's player-development contract with the Milwaukee Brewers expired this month. The Brewers told Power management earlier in the year they didn't want to hold any discussions about a renewal until after the season. The Brewers have signed a pair of two-year agreements with the Power since Appalachian Power Park opened in 2005.

There have been published reports that the Brewers may be moving to Appleton, Wis., to replace the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Brewers are one of 17 major league teams whose player-development contracts with low Class A affiliates run out this fall.

"The speculation is the Brewers are bound for Appleton, which leaves us three options,'' said Power general manager Andy Milovich. "The speculation is that's been a done deal for a long time. We'll see.

"With the Brewers you can extend at any time. We could have done that weeks ago, months ago, today. Either their minds are made up or they haven't gotten around to the point where they're ready to talk.''

Since the Power never received a commitment from the Brewers one way or another, Power management notified minor league baseball officials after the regular season ended that they wanted to explore their options.

Milovich said there are three teams available for next season: the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.

"I have no idea which way it's leaning,'' he said. "We'll hit the phones and see how it plays out. We'll contact the farm directors from the three teams that are available and see what their thoughts are.

"It might be something that comes together very quickly. You have people that haven't seen our facilities that might want to take time and meet and talk. It shouldn't take very long because there's not that many teams. I think we've got three weeks to meet, talk and wrap things up.

"It could be something we talk with somebody [today] and it's the right fit and it's the direction we want to go. Initially, I would say we have a preference. I think the trend in major league baseball and minor league baseball is to partner with somebody that's a close major league affiliate.''

It's hard to figure why the Brewers would want to end the affiliation with the Power.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Power will begin finding out which major league baseball teams are willing to play ball.

Today is the first day minor league teams can begin contacting and negotiating player-development contracts with major league affiliates for the 2009 season.

The Power's player-development contract with the Milwaukee Brewers expired this month. The Brewers told Power management earlier in the year they didn't want to hold any discussions about a renewal until after the season. The Brewers have signed a pair of two-year agreements with the Power since Appalachian Power Park opened in 2005.

There have been published reports that the Brewers may be moving to Appleton, Wis., to replace the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Brewers are one of 17 major league teams whose player-development contracts with low Class A affiliates run out this fall.

"The speculation is the Brewers are bound for Appleton, which leaves us three options,'' said Power general manager Andy Milovich. "The speculation is that's been a done deal for a long time. We'll see.

"With the Brewers you can extend at any time. We could have done that weeks ago, months ago, today. Either their minds are made up or they haven't gotten around to the point where they're ready to talk.''

Since the Power never received a commitment from the Brewers one way or another, Power management notified minor league baseball officials after the regular season ended that they wanted to explore their options.

Milovich said there are three teams available for next season: the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.

"I have no idea which way it's leaning,'' he said. "We'll hit the phones and see how it plays out. We'll contact the farm directors from the three teams that are available and see what their thoughts are.

"It might be something that comes together very quickly. You have people that haven't seen our facilities that might want to take time and meet and talk. It shouldn't take very long because there's not that many teams. I think we've got three weeks to meet, talk and wrap things up.

"It could be something we talk with somebody [today] and it's the right fit and it's the direction we want to go. Initially, I would say we have a preference. I think the trend in major league baseball and minor league baseball is to partner with somebody that's a close major league affiliate.''

It's hard to figure why the Brewers would want to end the affiliation with the Power.

The Power played in the South Atlantic League championship game for the second straight season. And the Power has drawn fans, setting attendance records three out of four seasons.

 "The baseball people I talked to would love to stay,'' Milovich said. "They love the climate, the fans [and] they've enjoyed the front office staff.

"All you have to do is listen to the crowd when the team's down ... it's an exciting place. You have baseball guys that want to do what's right for development. Traditionally, when you have that debate, the business guys win out.''

The Brewers have always sent their best prospects to the Power, including Ryan Braun, who was last year's National League rookie of the year, and Yovani Gallardo, who has been in the Brewers' starting rotation the past two seasons.

The Brewers also sent last year's first-round draft pick Matt LaPorta to Charleston, and Evan Frederickson, one of this year's first-round draft choices, was on the Power's roster this season.

"It's pretty remarkable the talent we've seen,'' Milovich said. "I think [the Brewers have] been great from a fans' perspective, seeing quality baseball.''

Milovich, however, can also see why the Brewers would want to head to Appleton, which is in the same state as the major league club.

"They'll develop fans [who] get attached to the players when they're coming through the Midwest League and hopefully lead to future ticket sales, television viewers [and] radio sales [for the major league club],'' he said. 

Milovich said no matter what happens, Charleston will have baseball next spring and beyond.

"I'm sure we'll land on our feet with somebody the community can be happy about,'' he said.

"I think the fear [and] panic from a lot of fans that don't understand the process is we won't have baseball in 2009. We're guaranteed a major league affiliate. There's nothing for the fans to worry about. We'll always do what's in their best interests.''

Reach Tommy R. Atkinson at 348-4811 or tatkin...@wvgazette.com.