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On a day when the Yankees were always guaranteed to sign free agents, they certainly got to work. With the exciting news that DJ LeMahieu and Corey Kluber will be pinstriped this coming season, it’s easy to overlook the other additions made to the organization yesterday. After a delay in the normal opening of the international free agency from July 2 to January 15, many young prospects were able to officially join a major league organization.
There was a huge amount of anticipation at the start of the 2019 international signing period, as the Yankees were ready to pay the highest signing bonus they had ever given to an amateur Jasson Dominguez player. This year, the Yankees class is much less publicized and is even diminished from now on compared to what it would have been if the signing period had opened on July 2.nd, 2020 as originally planned.
The Yankees came in with baseball’s second-lowest bonus pool after losing $ 1 million from their signing bonus pool when they signed Gerrit Cole, who was tied to a rejected qualifying offer. Rules for teams to redeem for additional bonus pool space have been suspended this year, leaving teams only their base allowance.
This year’s class award for the Yankees is Dominican shortstop Hans Montero. The Yankees have reportedly inked Montero for a bonus of $ 1.7 million. The 5-foot-10 shortstop turned 17 on Christmas Day and is a right-handed hitter.
Baseball America ranks him as the 23rd best international prospect available this winter, despite not making it onto MLB.com’s Top 30 list. The Yankees paid him off based on some of their best prospects from the last few years, indicating that they really liked his skills and were willing to head to the top of the market to get his signing.
Montero is expected to stay on shortstop, which is an important symbol of his athletic ability. Many players sign as shortstops, but are quickly moved down the defensive spectrum as their bodies fill up. He is known for his soft hands and strong arm. Montero also has more speed with a spreading power that the Yankees are hoping to develop into something more.
Joining Hans with the Yankees is Dominican outfielder Fidel Montero (no link). Fidel was signed as a shortstop after being listed as an athletic outfielder in his Baseball America pre-signing review. It is said to have big tools but was not rated very well due to inconsistent performance in the game.
To round out the day, the Yankees also signed Ramiro Altagracia, an outfielder from the Dominican Republic, and Venezuelan shortstop Kleiner Delgado.
One piece missing from the Yankees’ signing day is Jesus Galiz, who was linked with the team from early last year until recently. Galiz, an eighth-ranked Venezuelan receiver by MLB.com, changed commitments in late November. He signed with the Dodgers for $ 400,000, which one report said was about half of what the Yankees were getting him. No specific reason was given for his change, but the recent success of the Dodgers’ player development system likely played a role in the decision.
The Yankees had also been linked with highly rated prospect Samuel Basallo at certain points in the process before moving to Baltimore. The 6-foot-4 catcher is a potential impact bat, while his size has raised questions about how long he would stay behind home plate.
The Yankees are standing with four signed players after the first day of the signing period and likely still have a significant chunk of their bonus pool to spend. Two best prospects remain free agents. Cuban outfielder Oscar Colás, ranked second best international free agent by MLB.com, was officially licensed as a free agent at the end of December. He is an attractive prospect having played in Japan for several years and reached the highest league at 20. We recently published an article here at Pinstripe Alley about Colás and the many ways it suits the Yankees organization perfectly. He is expected to train for major league teams soon, but has also hinted that he is ready to wait until the next signing period to maximize his bonus.
Also still in the market is Cuban shortstop Dyan Jorge, 17, ranked 20th by MLB.com. The youngster stood out for his play against international competition with the Cuban 15U team in 2018 and was favored to sign with Colorado for most of the run-up to signing, but he remains available. He is considered a defender and a runner more endowed with an exceptional instinct.
The Yankees have added at least four new players to their organization with the opening of the international free agency period. They’re unlikely to be immediately on top prospect lists, but the Yankees boast a strong international presence on their various lead rankings.
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