(Image/Graphic courtesy of NH Fisher Cats)

MANCHESTER – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are about to join a big minor league baseball family that will have even more of a stronghold on the sport in New England.

The team announced Tuesday it has entered into an agreement to sell the franchise to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select Minor League clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Fisher Cats will continue to play at Delta Dental stadium in Manchester as the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, with all staff remaining in place under the existing leadership of CEO Rick Brenner, and General Manager, Michael Neis. Tom Silvia, New Hampshire native and one of the club’s current owners, will stay on in an advisory role once the acquisition is complete.

If Diamond Baseball sounds familiar, it was recently in the regional news as it’s said to be wrapping up negotiations to buy the popular Worcester Red Sox, the Triple A affiliate of Boston Red Sox, which moved to Worcester a few years ago. It also owns the Red Sox Double A affiliate, the Portland (Me.) Sea Dogs, and Boston’s single A affiliate in Salem, N.C.

“We are thrilled to add the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to the DBH family, our second Toronto Blue Jays affiliate and one of the top teams in the Double-A Eastern League,” said Pat Battle and Peter Freund, Executive Chairman and CEO of Diamond Baseball Holdings, respectively, in a release issued yesterday. “We want to thank Tom Silvia, who will remain in an advisory role, for his stewardship of the franchise and we look forward to continuing to build on what is already one of the best fan experiences and Double-A ballparks in all of Minor League Baseball.”

“I want to thank the city of Manchester, Mayor Joyce Craig and the Toronto Blue Jays for their support of this exciting partnership, which will preserve the Minor League Baseball experience in Manchester for the next generation,” said Silvia in a statement. “I am delighted to pass the torch to Pat Battle, Peter Freund and the DBH team and am confident the franchise will continue to thrive under their exceptional leadership alongside the amazing Fisher Cats staff.”

“This is an exciting new chapter for our club and the community, and I am elated to join Michael and our staff in welcoming DBH to Manchester,” said Brenner. “We look forward to continued success both on and off the field and many more nights of incredible entertainment at Delta Dental Stadium.”

This is the fifth ownership change for the franchise, but only the third outright controlling interest sale. The franchise was purchased when it was in New Haven, Conn. by former Lowell Spinners and Nashua Silver Knights owner Drew Weber in 2003, and Weber moved it to Manchester in 2004. Weber then brought in a partner in Art Solomon in ’04 and Solomon purchased full interest in the team from Weber in 2008.

In 2020, Solomon sold stakes in the team to both Silvia and Brenner, both from Amherst, forming an ownership group. Ironically Solomon, who lives in East Providence, R.I., is reportedly proposing to build a 3,500 seat stadium at Rhode Island College to house a team in MLB’s newest prospect invention called “The Draft League.” His name was not mentioned in yesterday’s release.

“The Toronto Blue Jays would like to thank Tom and the ownership group at DSF Sports Group for their leadership and devotion to our players, staff and the Fisher Cats these past few years,” said Mark Shapiro, President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, in the release. “We are pleased to expand our relationship with DBH and are confident that with their vision and experience, the Fisher Cats will have a vibrant future.”

According to the release, the sale should be finalized quickly.

“Subject to obtaining the consent of the league and satisfying other standard closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed promptly,” it said.

(Material sent out by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats was used in this story.)