Yankees Draft Review, Pt. 2

Okay, let's break it down a bit.

This week the Yankees picked 16 seniors, 13 juniors, 3 JuCo's, 2 sophomores and 7 preps.   So it is true and in 2013 we signed 7 preps today, and this year we only took 7.

Of their 41 picks 24 are pitchers, 17 are positions players (didn't seem that close when they were picking them)

Of the pitcherss 20 were RHP's and just 4 were lefties.  Btw, last year, which felt like a pitching heavy draft saw the Yanks draft 23 pitchers, so this one was even more pitching heavy.

In general, the seniors will all sign right away or as soon as they're done playing -- or decide to retire. I think as long as the current inane spending limits are in place, the most successful drafting teams with find players along the margins, the biggest one being senior signs.   He was picked before the rules changes, but Adam Warren is turning out to be a pretty interesting senior sign.    The Yanks, if they want to successful - and it still doesn't look like they will ever have a top 10 pick - or a competitive balance pick - will have to find seniors who can play.

The downside of this, is that the Yanks, under current management don't rely on call ups like some other teams do.   Thus a senior pick, like Kyle Roller was, can get old waiting.  Something's gonna have to give on that end.

As far as signability goes the 13 juniors,  3 JuCo's, 2 DES guys, and 7 preps all have some leverage.  7 of this group of 25 were picked in the top 10 rounds and will sign.  Both preps have indicated they are signing right away, for example.

That leaves 18 guys with some leverage.  The amount of talent that actually gets added to the system will more or less depend on what they can get done with these 18 players.

Signability is an interesting thing.  Not everyone who has "leverage" wants to use it.  Some guys are just eager to start their pro careers.  Mike Trout signed for slot, for example.   Back in 2013 we picked prep Kendall Coleman early on Day three and got his him signed for an extra 25K or something.  Of course, he's been hurt much of the time since, but he was a prep who was just eager to get going.

With three new teams starting at the end of next week, my guess is they will go back to signing around 30 guys total.   Some names should start emerging today.

In part three, I'll talk about the hitters.