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Yankees: Shhh – the team is adding new wrinkle to trades

By Steve Contursi

(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) /
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Quietly, yet noticeably, the Yankees are adding a new wrinkle to deals they have recently made. Twice now, the team has added international signing bonus money to their pockets, and it’s all legal!

The Yankees have already disturbed most of major league baseball by stocking up on their bullpen, to the point where starters are almost insignificant in their strategy to win games. Now, to further wrankle their competition, who are only irritated because they didn’t think of it first, the Yankees have figured out a way to increase their standing in the international player’s market.

First, some background is needed, and Baseball America provides that:

"Most teams have a bonus pool of $4.75 million, while some clubs classified as small market or small revenue teams get either $5.25 million or $5.75 million. Teams are allowed to trade their pool space once the signing period opens on July 2. Clubs can trade for up to 75 percent of their original pool allotment and are allowed to trade away their entire pool."

The keywords and the ones the Yankees have picked up on are “teams are allowed to trade….”. And with that, what have we seen, lately?

We see a trade, which in the sweepstakes of the last week went mostly unnoticed, in which the Yankees traded Double-A right-hander Yefry Ramirez to the Orioles, not for another player, but instead in exchange for international bonus pool money.

And then in the deal to acquire Sonny Gray, we see this little blurb in the fine print as reported by MLB.com:  “In addition to Gray, the Yankees will receive $1.5MM in international bonus pool money.”

What’s that all about?

A relative editorial comment

The Yankees, historically have not been big players in the international players market, despite the fact that most of the future stars of baseball are coming from that market.

And when you look at the current composition of the team, it should strike everyone that of their “stars,” Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier, Jordan Montgomery, Greg Bird, Matt Holliday, and Brett Gardner all have one thing in common – excuse me – but they’re all Caucasian.

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And other than Gary Sanchez and a couple of others, do the Yankees have a cadre of bonafide Latin stars? I realize I’m on treacherous ground here, so I’ll let it go, though the point still stands. Which is that the Yankees organization has not been overly (keyword) active in pursuing and drafting players of Latin descent, to the degree that other teams have.

What we see now might signify a change in strategy and direction, and if it does, the Yankees will be better for it.

I have issues with Latin ballplayers, but I always check them with how well they play the game of baseball. I don’t like the fact that many don’t speak English and an interpreter is required every time Gary Sanchez gives an interview but hey, maybe it’s my fault I don’t speak Spanish.

And I could do without the bat flipping to show up pitchers, but I can also understand and appreciate it’s the way they’ve been brought up to play the game. And maybe some of Bryce Harper‘s bravados is needed more and not less in today’s game.

But in the end, all I think we all want to see is the best brand of baseball the Yankees, as well as all teams, can produce on the field.

And if this means the Yankees are maneuvering to take a giant step in that regard by pursuing baseball talent across the globe, no matter if it comes from Des Plaines, Iowa or Venezuela, count me in.

Next: Which Horse will end up in the barn, now?

In the meantime, give the Yankees an A for effort in moving in this direction. And an A+ for figuring out a way to do it by increasing the pool money they have in their reserve.

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