Yankee Draft Week

2006 third rounder Zach McAllister is currently dominating AA, as the Yanks get ready for another draft. This year's draft will happen over three days, starting with three rounds Tuesday Night, then getting to round 30 Wednesday and finishing off Thursday. The Yanks have to sign their first two picks this year or they lose the draft spots, meaning they'd be left with nothing from the first two rounds of the last two drafts. That wouldn't be good.

Vice President of Scouting Damon Oppenheimer told NoMaas that the Yanks will be working with a hard number this year, but I find that a little hard to believe. Sure the economy is even effecting the Yanks, but they're still gonna be in a position to take some of the kids who fall past the teams who are being hit even harder by the economy.

I think they'll take the BPA out of the kids who fall in the first round, then try to go BPA in a few more spots as the draft goes on. Not every signability kid is getable as we saw last year, but I think they will look to build even great power pitching depth, lefty where possible, and will look to take some high upside high school bats. I suspect they will be looking for power there, too.

Oh, and don't freak out if they take another high upside catcher or three. Even though they have Montero, Romine, Weems, Higashioka, Liccen, and the high dollar Ausie kid who is coming over next year, they love taking catchers who can hit, and have a good program for developing them. They see catchers second only to pitchers in positional trade value, so don't freak. The catcher we take could be part of our next big OF bat, or "bridge to Mo."

It should be fun. I'll give my impressions here, but hit NoMaas for Lane Meyer's great coverage, and check out "around the minors" at NYYfans.com for an army of updaters. Enjoy the draft and Go Yanks!