Trawling For Talent

With the Rule IV draft over, the Yanks will now begin finalizing their class for 7/2/09. As you know, every year July 2nd is the first day teams can sign or announce the signings of Internation Free Agents who have turned 16 by 7/2. After 7/2 teams are free to sign 16 years olds as soon as they turn 16 up until New Years. As IFA has evolved the Yanks have opened the business up to sign kids all year long. Some have been passed over in previous years, like Kelvin Duran, and some have birthday's after 7/2, like Victor Reynoso, both of who are tearing it up for Yankees DSL2 through the first 12 games.

Last year the Yanks also added Alfredo Aceves, Manny Banuelos and two other pitchers from the Mexican League in February and Jorge Vazquez who was also from the Mexican League in November or December. So it's a full year process though the media, such as it exists for IFA, focuses on 7/2 signees.

This 7/2 could be a big one for the Yanks as it looks like they are the front runners for uber prospect C Gary Sanchez, and have an appointment with uber prospect SS/3B Migel Angel Sano this Thursday at the Academy. They're looking at other kids as well, but it could be an historically significant class if they were to say land Sanchez, Sano, and VZL SS Sardina. We'll see what happens, but it should be pretty exciting. Go Yanks!