BREAKING: Yankees Beginning Spending Spree Internationally

Feb 18, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi (28) talk as they watch batting practice at Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Remember hearing all of those reports on how the Yankees are going to splurge on international players and break all kinds of records? I wrote last week about how the Yankees are focusing on pitching in the draft because of that strategy. Well, the spree is beginning.

According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the Yankees have agreed to terms on deals for infielders Dermis Garcia, Nelson Gomez and Christopher Torres. Garcia will get $3.6 million, Gomez $2.8 million and Torres $2.6 milion. The deals won’t be official until July 2nd when the international signing period opens.

Kiley McDaniel of Scout.com had reported the Yankees’ interest in all three prospects all the way back in February. The post also includes more of their strategy, including how the Yankees could spend near $20 million in bonuses,exceeding their allotment of $2 million, which would cause them next year to only have $250K to spend on international players.

The Yankees are doing this because they feel they need to kickstart their farm system. They can’t keep spending money on older players and losing picks, and at times putting band-aids on broken legs. This year’s international class is expected to be quite good, while next year’s class isn’t, so the Yankees are going to spend more and deal with it next year.

I applaud the Yankees on this strategy. It’s nice to see them spending money on youth and not on older guys. The Yankees won’t have high picks, so if they can get top quality players internationally to develop then so be it.