Friday, July 27, 2007

Yankees International Signings

This is from Baseball America on the Yankees international signings.

The Red Sox' rival in the Bronx had signed more players so far, with five of the Yankees' signees considered among the elite of this year's market. And that begins with Dominican outfielder Kelvin DeLeon, who was tagged as the top outfielder available.
"I wouldn't say he's at all like Melky Cabrera, however," said Yankees senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman, referring to an earlier scouting report. "Body-wise, he's more like Ruben Rivera. This guy's got all kinds of potential. He's an above-average to plus runner and he could be a big power guy.
"He's probably a right fielder with a plus-plus arm, but he could be an average to slightly above-average center fielder also. We'll play him in different spots out there, but he's probably going to be limited to right just to allow the bat to play."
Newman refused comment on DeLeon's signing bonus, but several sources indicated it was well below the $1.6 to $1.8 million initially reported. One source verified it was in the $1.1 to $1.2 million range.
The Yankees also signed four other impact players considered among the top talents in the Dominican Republic market: righthander Andogious Vizcaino, third baseman Elio De La Rosa, and outfielders Henry Pena and Edwardo Sosa. Vizcaino has a projectable body with a plus fastball that is already in the low 90s and repeats his delivery well. Newman called Vizcaino the top pitcher in the Dominican, according to the Yanks' international scouting department.
Pena is a lefthanded-hitting outfielder that will likely be designated to a corner spot. "We like his bat a lot," Newman said. "He's a left-left guy who throws very well and has good instincts. He uses the whole field and has a smooth, advanced swing."
Sosa is more of a slashing center fielder in the mold of a young Juan Pierre or Willy Taveras, with plus speed and outstanding range.
"Definitely a plus run guy," Newman said. "We like the bat. He's a guy who's going to hit for a high average, be a threat on the bases and we think there's some power in there to come. But his strengths are plus speed, plus quickness in the outfield."

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