Yankees Draft: Some Initial Thoughts

The MLB Draft which will run from 6/5-6/7 is two weeks away.   You probably recall my pain as the Yanks traded their early picks for free agents this past winter.  It's going to be brutal at the start of the draft when their first pick doesn't come till number 56.   Not only does picking late like that take the top off of the talent pool, but it leads to smaller signing allotments.  So the Yanks can't really make up for their FA spree by signing bunches of signability kids.  The money just wouldn't be allowed, and with rumors flying that they will break the rules in IFA, this might not be the year to do it in the Draft, since, the penalty would once again be picks.   They probably don't want to face sanctions in both the Draft and IFA next year, though it would be emotionally satisfying this year.

So, anyway, the Yanks will probably go pretty college heavy early going, though their might be a prep or two in their first three picks.    They've actually been doing pretty well with drafting collegiate relievers, as we're already seeing at their MLB level, and I expect that to continue.  And they're also finally having some luck with college bats.

Before MLB attacked draft spending, it always made sense for the Yanks to go big and heavy for preps.  They never went as big or as heavy as they should have and now it's too late and their previous prep focus doesn't make as much sense.

We could talk about their failure to develop so many preps that they drafted, but they've changed a lot of personnel at the MLB team levels let's see how that turns out.  Cave and Bird look great.

So let's draft pitches with velo and/or swing and miss stuff , as well as both college and prep hitters with patience and pop.   We might want to get a little more left handed with arms and bats, but we'll see.  The players have to be there.

And then let's go for a huge talent infusion in IFA.  Btw, so far it seems like they're mostly going for bats in this year's IFA market.