Mike Organ

morgan@tennessean.com

The Nashville Sounds severed ties with the Milwaukee Brewers, owner Frank Ward said Tuesday, because he felt the Sounds could find a major league affiliate more committed to winning.

Ward said the Oakland A's franchise fits that description.

On Tuesday, Ward and A's general manager Billy Beane signed a player development contract that puts Oakland's Pacific Coast League affiliate in Nashville and the new First Tennessee Park for the next four seasons.

The Sounds affiliation with the Brewers, which began in 2005, expired at the end of this past season.

"The biggest thing was winning," Ward said when asked why he decided not to re-sign with Milwaukee. "Let me just say that I have great respect for (Brewers general manager) Doug Melvin and everything he's accomplished. But winning is very key to us and the A's bring that to us after winning (Pacific Coast League) 11 division titles; they are committed to winning."

Ward was attracted to a philosophy that Beane says trickles down into the A's farm system.

"We consider winning at this level (Triple-A) as a major part of the relationship, a major part of development," Beane said. "It's one thing to say it, but it's another thing to do it."

In the 15 years the A's Triple-A affiliate was in Sacramento it made the playoffs 11 times, won four Pacific Coast League championships and two Triple-A World Series.

Sacramento ended its affiliation with the A's at the end of this past season.

"The best record in Triple-A during the time period we were in there was something we promised the city of Sacramento and we delivered on it," Beane said. "And it's something we expect to deliver here in Nashville. We recognize the importance that the team means to the community and part of that is making sure that it's a good team. I reiterate that commitment we have to the fans, the city, to Frank, to everybody else involved with the Sounds."

After back-to-back losing seasons the Sounds improved this past year and posted a 77-67 record, but failed to make the PCL playoffs.

The last time the Sounds made the playoffs was 2007.

"The A's have always had a strong farm system," Ward said. "Their Double-A (Midland RockHounds) has won the the title, their Single-A (Stockton Ports) has set a record for the most wins and making the playoffs and I know a lot of those players will be with us in the 2015 season."

Beane played in Greer Stadium in the 1980s when he was in the Reds' minor league system.

He said the facility was fine for back then, but he was pleased the Sounds were moving into the new First Tennessee Park in April.

"I hadn't been back here in a number of years in a baseball capacity and it was kind of hard to believe that they were still playing in that stadium," Beane said. "I know there were some great memories there, but it's time to pass the torch. It speaks volumes for the community leaders and the city leaders that you were able to put together a facility of this magnitude. Maybe you can give us some hints in Oakland because we're trying to secure our own facility."

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter at @MikeOrganWriter.