SEATTLE - The Seattle Mariners have signed a two-year agreement with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, making the Southern League team new Double-A affiliate.

The Mariners had used the San Antonio Missions as their Double-A team since 2001. The Diamond Jaxx, based in Jackson, Tenn., had been the affiliate of the Chicago Cubs for the previous nine years of the franchise.

"The Diamond Jaxx are excited to become a part of the Seattle Mariners family and look forward to seeing firsthand their commitment to developing to developing future major leaguers from around the world," Diamond Jaxx general manager Jeff Parker said in a statement.

Seattle is the third American League team to have its affiliate in the Southern League, joining the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.