Yankee IFA Targets: Part 1 The Dominicans

Now that the MLB Draft is behind us, the International Free Agent signing period fast approaches, beginning on July 2nd. Here are some quick updates about players the Yanks are targeting:

Miguel Angel Sano SS Dominican Republic-The top prospect out of the DR according to most scouts. He’s the complete package in terms of tools and makeup. Many think he will eventually move off SS to 3B or the outfield, but his bat will play anywhere. Tyler Kepner is reporting the Yanks have recently worked him out. The Pirates are thought to be the Yanks’ main competitor for his services, but as many as 10 other teams are also interested.

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WORKOUT FOR TEEN PROSPECT Miguel Angel Sano, a top shortstop prospect, will work out for the Yankees at their academy in the Dominican Republic next Thursday, according to Sano’s agent, Rob Plummer. Sano, who turned 16 last month, is said to be drawing significant interest before the signing period for international players begins on July 2.

“I would say he has a Hanley Ramirez body and the possible upside of an Albert Pujols-type bat,” Plummer said. “He has a real short swing and hands that go right to the ball.”

Plummer said the Yankees had maintained steady interest in Sano, who is 6 feet 3 inches and bats right-handed. Sano has been linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote last month that he had already been offered more than $3 million. The record bonus for a Dominican player is $4.25 million, which Oakland gave pitcher Michael Inoa last summer.

Jean Carlos Batista, SS Dominican Republic: From Baseball Prospectus

Scouts look at Batista’s projectable frame (6’1, 170) and smooth switch-hitting stroke and mention Carlos Beltran Beverly Hills Cop III full movie , seeing possibly 20 home runs annually coming down the road. They mention his speed, glove, arm, and footwork are all solid, allowing you to easily project him as a shortstop at higher levels. One even noted that he looks like Derek Jeter in the face (the version that was a good defensive shortstop, no doubt). This type of five-tool talent gets well over the $150,000-$300,000 bonus range I referenced in the prior article. After consulting some sources, it appears Batista already has multiple offers over $500,000 on the table, and there is legitimate chatter that he will get over $1 million when all is said and done. The Dodgers, Rangers, A’s, Indians, and Yankees are believed to be the front-runners.

Gary Sanchez Catcher, Dominican Republic-As we discussed earlier, the Yanks are the front runners to land him, and there’s an unconfirmed report that they already have. Here’s a scouting report on him as a player:

Background: If you’re looking for a controversial top prospect, you can stop the search here. Nearly every team I’ve spoken with is very wary of Sanchez, and it appears there is only one team left in the running, but they’re known for their deep pockets, and are set to pay retail.

Pros: Sanchez has some very take-notice attributes: a projectable pro’s body, a plus arm, plus-plus power, and the ability to put on one of the most impressive batting-practice displays in Latin America. He has solid agility and adequate receiving skills, and many think he’ll stick as a catcher longer than most Dominican catching prospects. The believers in his talent write him up with four plus to plus-plus tools (and below-average speed).

Cons: His representation has been very aggressive, making him available to a number of teams multiple times over the last few months, but many have said that he looks tired and overworked as of late. Nearly every team I talked to has seriously questioned his ability to hit in games and/or have not seen him take more than a handful of swings against live pitching. This understandably turns many teams off, having no idea how a potential seven-figure investment will perform in a game situation.

Quick Fact: At one private workout, Sanchez refused to hit live pitching after dazzling in batting practice. After throwing down to second base a few times, he was asked to perform the same drills with catching gear on, but his representation pulled him off of the field. While this may appear to be the behavior of a prima donna, these kids are young and do what they’re told by the people they trust. In addition, if Sanchez gets paid as much as many think he will, this will look a lot more like an agent successfully controlling his client’s perception and a client following his representation all the way to the bank.

Comparison: The easy comparison is Yankees prospect Jesus Montero, the last seven-figure July 2nd catching prospect, who signed for $1.6 million three years ago. One long-time Latin talent evaluator cautions against that: “Gary has a better body and a better chance to stick behind the plate, but can’t carry Montero’s iPod when it comes to hitting.

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These player comps are a bit tough to stomach, especially the ones coming from the Agents. There have been more busts out of Latin America than anyone can count, but of course the same can be said of domestic prospects. I’ll trust the Yanks judgement on these guys. Its also important to remember that just like with domestic free agents, every agent wants to tell everyone the Yanks are in on his player to drive up the price. The Yanks often get the top players they target (Michael Inoa notwithstanding) and its usually far fewer than the ones they are rumored to be interested in.