Reports: Yankees Sign 16-Yr-Old Venezuelan

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

Reports: Yankees Sign 16-Yr-Old Venezuelan
NEW YORK � The New York Yankees have signed 16-year-old Venezuelan catcher Jesus Montero to a $2 million deal, according to published reports Tuesday.
The Yankees outbid Boston, Cleveland and the Mets for Montero shortly after the international signing period began late Saturday night, several newspapers reported.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Montero is viewed as a possible successor to 34-year-old Jorge Posada behind the plate for the Yankees.
"We think he was the No. 1 amateur catcher," Mark Newman, the Yankees' senior vice president of baseball operations, told The New York Times. "He has arm strength, he has power, he can hit for average. I think he's the consensus No. 1 guy. He's like a high first-round draft pick."
The right-handed hitting slugger will begin playing for the Yankees' Gulf Coast League team next season.
"He'll instantly become the highest catching prospect in out system," Yankees GM Brian Cashman told the New York Daily News. "One of our scouts believes he's the best prospect to come out of Venezuela since Miguel Cabrera."
Associated Press

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

succesor to Posada? He's 16 years old!!!

It'll be at least 3 or 4 years until he's ready to play in the bigs (and when I say "at least", I mean absolute best-case scenario), which means they expect Posada to catch until he's at least 38 years old?

What the fuck???

Mr. WikipediaSpamBot

Doesn't MLB have a minimum age requirement?

Simon

Founder/Admin

I think there minimum age is 18. I could be wrong. I think its not age requirement, but so much time out of high school. I am not sure.

Wasn't A-Rod up from the minors for a cup of coffee back in the day at the age of 17? Who knows.


The Yankees will trade this guy away before he is 19. Mark my words. Maybe even for Dontrelle Willis or some shit this year. They can't help themselves.

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

i think 18 is the age limit to play in the majors, but I think it's younger if you're signing an international player. Bernie Williams signed with the Yankees at 16 also

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

Oh, and A-Rod was 19 when he made his debut, I believe. He was born in 1975, and made his debut in 1995, shortly before his 20th b-day

Simon

Founder/Admin

He is still a douchebag though.

I love that Yankee fans are booing him. He hits that game winning dinger last Sunday and tosses his bat in the air like "NOW am I a Yankee?"

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

The thing is, I don't get WHY Boston fans think this

Because he offered to take less money to come to Boston? Because he was more than willing to reduce his salary, but the Players Union stepped in and disallowed the trade? Because that trade falling through kept you from trading Manny, the 2004 World Series MVP, and Nomar for Magglio Ordonez, who was hurt most of 2004?

I just don't get it...

Mr. Hyde

You don't see why we think he's a douchebag? Did you see the ALCS in 2004??? Did you see how A-Rod cheated and knocked the ball out of Arroyo's hand? Did you see when he started that huge brawl between the Sox and Yankees? He's a poor sport. Everyone knows it.

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

Wow!!! That's TERRIBLE!!! I can't believe he did that!!!! Far and away the worst thing anyone has ever done on a baseball field. By the way, he was called out and Jeter was forced to go back to first on that play. So, even if you consider it "cheating", he didnt get away with it, and it actually hurt the Yankees because Jeter wasnt allowed to advance the base. Yet another reason why Boston fans should actually LIKE A-Rod...

You mean the one where he was upset about getting hit by a pitch and Varitek threw the first punch? Oh yeah, what a jerk A-Rod is.