When the Death Barge recently fired Danny Rowland, its longtime chief international talent scout, who knew enough about it to take a side?
It's not as if Rowland had signed any Juan Sotos lately. Then again, the recruitment of 16-year-olds has always been a sordid mess, MLB's version of Epstein Island.
And the Yankees often led the way. They signed Gary Sanchez, Jesus Montero, Dermis Garcia, Hans Montero, Jasson Dominguez - to name just a few. Most soon disappeared, along with their innocence, in the haze of the minor leagues.
Now comes this horrifying tidbit from the dark edges of the Yankiverse:
The Yankees have entered into some sort of Satanic agreement with a 13-year-old - yes, thirteen - from Venezuela. His name is Albert Mejias. They'll pay $7 million to his family coaches handlers traffickers, at an age when most kids are finishing Little League. Check this out...
According to the Internet, this looming payout breaks a record - $6 million to a tyke named Lucias Fox, who signed with the Giants in 2015. Fox never hit and bounced to the Rays, the Royals, the Orioles, the Nationals and finally the White Sox. He's now listed as a free agent, though he hasn't played since 2024.
Of course, none of it mattered. At age 16, Fox became a multi-millionaire (though I'd bet it's all gone, siphoned off agents, alimonies and entourages.)
Hey, wanna build a Yankee team that, at its core, doesn't give a mosquito's crap about winning?
Make them millionaires at 16.
Now, we learn that - thanks to the Yankees - 16 is too old. They're signing a kid whose testicles have yet to fully drop, whose voice is still changing, and they'll bestow upon him more money than most people will make in their lifetimes - all while Hal Steinbrenner complains about the rent on his taxpayer-funded stadium.
Obviously, Danny Rowland needed to go. As for his replacement? I'd suggest a crackerjack scout who might just be available soon, with a boost from their old pal in the White House. Her name is Ghislaine Maxwell. She knows 13-year-olds.
Yeah, I heard about this. Certainly seems like wasted money. One day somebody will sign a 1 yr old in diapers to a 10 million dollar deal.
ReplyDeleteI would like my reincarnated self to be signed for a paltry $1 million. Payable now, to me, but the Yankees get full rights to whoever I end up being after I die.
ReplyDeleteA bargain.
David Robertson retired. Worth noting, at least.
ReplyDeleteLadies and Gentlemen......please welcome our newest, barely teenage signing, The Plutonian.
ReplyDeleteI found this on the Yankee subReddit...very interesting:
ReplyDeleteRHP Angel Chivilli represents the very last drop of value from the Yankees' 2015 Amateur Draft
Here's a brief overview of the Yankees 2015 draft picks. Every player is either out of the organization or has been traded away for players who are also out of the organization. Only the trade tree culminating in Angel Chivilli remains!
The number in parantheses represents the Draft Round.
(1a) RHP James Kaprielian
Kaprielian and others traded for RHP Sonny Gray. Gray traded for 2B Shed Long Jr. and a comp pick (LHP T. J. Sikkema).
Long traded for OF Josh Stowers. Stowers and others traded for 2B Rougned Odor. Odor released. END
Sikkema and others traded for Andrew Benintendi. Benintendi left in free agency. END
(3) RHP Drew Finley
Finley traded for CF Tim Locastro. Locastro traded for LHP Ronald Roman. Roman retired. END
(5) RHP Chance Adams
Adams traded for SS Cristian Perez. Perez released. END
(8) C Donny Sands
Sands traded for 1B T.J. Rumfield and LHP Joel Valdez.
Valdez taken in Rule 5 Draft, AAA Phase. END
Rumfield traded for RHP Angel Chivilli. ONGOING
(10) LHP James Reeves
Reeves traded for LF Greg Allen. Allen DFAed. END
(11) LHP Josh Rogers and (22) RHP Cody Carroll
Rogers, Carroll, and others traded for LHP Zach Britton. Britton re-signed as FA and then retired. END
Never Made the Show (with Yankees) and Weren't Traded for Anything:
(1b) SS Kyle Holder - became FA, (2) LHP Jeff Degano - released, (4) CF Jeff Hendrix - released, (6) 2B Brandon Wagner - became FA, (7) RF Jhalan Jackson - released, (9) 1B Ryan Krill - released, (12) CF Terrance Robertson - released, (13) CF Trey Amburgey - became FA, (14) RHP Will Carter - claimed off waivers, (15) RHP Bret Marks - retired, (16) RHP Kolton Mahoney - released, (17) RHP Brody Koerner - became FA, (18) LF Zack Zehner - released, (19) RHP Mark Seyler - released, (20) 1B Isiah Gilliam - became FA, (21) RHP Josh Roeder - released, (23) RHP Garrett Mundell - released, (24) RHP Paddy O'Brien - released, (25) C Audie Afenir - released, (26) RHP Icezack Flemming - released, (27) 1B Michael Hicks - didn't sign, (28) RHP David Sosebee - became FA, (29) 1B Kane Sweeney - released, (30) RHP Chad Martin - released, (31) RHP Hobie Harris - claimed off waivers, (32) RHP Alex Robinett - joined the military, (33) RHP Christian Morris - released, (34) LHP Andrew Miller - didn't sign, (35) RHP Alex Bisacca - retired, (36) RHP Dustin Cook - retired, (37) 3B Matthew Schmidt - didn't sign, (38) 2B Mike Garzillo - didn't sign, (39) SS Deacon Liput - didn't sign, and (40) C Will Albertson - didn't sign.
Oh there's more...
ReplyDeleteHere's a sneak peak. I've posted this many times over the years and just haven't updated it, I'm sure it has gotten worse:
2015 Draft:
Pick 16: Yankees select James Kaprielian
Pick 24: Dodgers select Walker Buehler
Pick 30: Yankees select Kyle Holder
Pick 32: Pirates select Ke'Bryan Hayes
Pick 36: Orioles select Ryan Mountcastle
Pick 41: Braves select Austin Riley
Pick 92: Yankees select Drew Finley
Pick 100: Cardinals select Harrison Bader
Pick 105: Cardinals select Jordan Hicks
2016 Draft:
Pick 18: Yankees select Blake Rutherford
Pick 20: Dodgers select Gavin Lux
Pick 62: Yankees pick Nick Solak
Pick 64: Mets pick Pete Alonso
Pick 66: Blue Jays select Bo Bichette
Pick 98: Yankees select Nolan Martinez
Pick 111: Brewers take Corbin Burnes
Pick 122: Indians select Shane Bieber
2017 Draft:
Pick 54: Yankees select Matt Sauer
Pick 68: Diamondbacks select Daulton Varsho
2018 Draft:
Pick 97: Yankees select Ryder Green
Pick 102: Astros select Jeremy Pena
2019 Draft:
Pick 30: Anthony Volpe
Pick 42: Gunnar Henderson
Wow! Amazing find, ranger, thanks. What incredible incompetence—and it continues year after year.
ReplyDeleteThe continuing shitshow known as the Yankees organization.
ReplyDeleteCan we get another team in New York and call them the Highlanders? We need to start over.
Why we hang on . . .
DeleteSome days I just don’t know
It takes years and quite a bit of doing to destroy a franchise.
ReplyDelete@Hoss...the real crapshoot is the draft...not the playoffs...
ReplyDelete