Gary Denbo Creates Captain's Campers

Gary Denbo was hired this offseason to be in charge of player development in the New York Yankees farm system and has created a program called Captain's Campers. The purpose of the group is to promote quality character, accountability and respect for the game. Basically they are sending prospects to the Derek Jeter school.The Yankees invited 15 of their prospects to this year's camp and they all took part in character building exercises including visiting a children's hospital.

The fifteen prospects that attended were Luis Severino, Jacob Lindgren, Jake Cave, Ian Clarkin, Greg Bird, Eric Jagielo, Aaron Judge, Gosuke Katoh, Leonardo Molina, Alex Palma, Nick Rumbelow, Luis Torrens, Matt Tracy, Tyler Wade and Jorge Mateo.

Here is a direct quote from Lindgren:

“It kind of gave me an idea of what they want. How I should eat in the off-season to get ready for a long season. We got to talk to some big league guys who have done it before. They told us their personal experiences with it. You try to take a little bit from each person.” 

Yankees Send Four To The Instructional League

The Yankees are sending four players to the instructional league after this season, Tyler Austin, recent International Free Agent signing Leonardo Molina, and two of our three first round picks in 2013 in Ian Clarkin and Eric Jagielo.

Molina has not made his professional debut so this will be our first look at the latest $1,400,000 man. Molina was signed as a 16 year old international free agent out of the Dominican Republic this year.

 Tyler Austin is listed as a first basemen for the instructional league for some odd reason. Whether the Yankees are thinking of permanently moving him or if they are just trying to give him another position under his belt remains to be seen. I think we will know more when Austin heads to the Arizona Fall League this year. Tyler missed almost two months with a wrist injury that limited him to a .257/.344/.373 triple slash for the AA Trenton this year.

Clarkins first professional season did not go as planned after his debut being delayed after an ankle injury limiting Ian to just five innings in 2013 giving up five hits, four walks, and six runs in three games. Jagielo appeared in 51 games and put up a triple slash of .266/.376/.451.

After various injuries and such all four of these guys can use all the extra work that they can get before the 2014 season so this should be a fun Instructional League to cover.

Yankees Sign Leonardo Molina For $1,400,000

The Yankees have signed International Free Agent Leonardo Molina to a $1,400,000 deal to bring him into the Yankees organization. Today is his 16th birthday and the new CBA states that IFA's cannot sign before their 16th birthday so that is what caused the almost month delay on signing Molina. Molina was ranked as the fifth best IFA prospect by Baseball America and stand 6'2" and 165 lbs as a center fielder. Unfortunately he is not related to the catching trio Molina brothers but is still considered to be the best athlete in Central America so this is an exciting sign for the Yanks.

The Yankees have signed both Molina and Yonauris Rodriguez and find themselves $72,100 over their IFA cap set forth by MLB of $1,877,900. The Yankees have an opportunity to trade for IFA pool money but if they do not they will have to pay a 75% tax on the little over $72 K for an additional fee of $54,075.

Leonardo Molina International Signing Update

I did not originally know this somehow and learned it recently and wanted to bring this new found information to you guys. Until late last night I did not know that Leonardo Molina could not sign with the Yankees, or anyone for that matter, until his 16th birthday on August 1st. I was expecting to come home from work yesterday seeing the signing and was confused when I did not and now I know why. It's going to be a long month as all these guys come off of the board and we wait and hope we sign Molina. The Yankees must know something that we do not or I do not think we would be waiting.

Spotlight On Dominican OF Prospect Leonardo Molina

I've seen enough, sign this kid. The international spending spree has officially begun and the Yankees are the heavy favorites to sign Leonardo Molina. Here is a showcase from the best Dominican prospect in the entire international pool.

Yankees Will Likely Sign Yonauris Rodriguez Tomorrow

Yonaruris Rodriguez is a Dominican short stop that the Yankees will likely sign tomorrow when International spending starts at midnight. The contract is expected to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000 which will eat up a nice chunk of the Yankees $1,880,000 they have to spend for the entire year in the international pool. Y Rod, yeah I am starting that before anyone else gets the idea, is a right handed batter and is considered to be a defensive wizard with quick feet and soft hands. Ben Badler did not rank him in his top 30 International Prospects list before this years international spending spree started but the Yankees have seen enough of him in the Dominican Prospect League and at their minor league complex to know they want him in Yankees pinstripes. The Yankees will almost certainly max out their international spending cap with the expected signings of Y Rod and Leonardo Molina tomorrow.

International Free Agent Spending Starts Tuesday 7/2

Starting on Tuesday July 2nd the International Free Agent spending free for all begins at midnight and the Yankees look to be busy on that day. We learned yesterday that the Yankees would not be interested in Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez but today we learned that the Yankees will be interested in Dominican third baseman Rafael Devers. We should also be interested in Dominican left fielder Leonardo Molina. 

Devers is only 16 years old but was ranked as the best international free agent in this pool by Baseball America. BA also calls him the most advanced left handed hitter in the pool thanks to his bat speed, power potential, and ability to hit and recognize off speed pitching. His only issue is that at age 16 he is already 6'1" and 215 lbs so he may grow himself out of the hot corner.