Building Up The Yankees Farm: International

The Yankees future is changing fast. With the Yankees spending close to $500 million this offseason to Derek Jeter announcing his retirement after the 2014 season, the upcoming seasons will show a Yankees team that is not a familiar sight to many fans. Though when you look at teams like the Cardinals, Pirates, and Athletics, they have very bright futures because they don't have to go out and buy the best players. They have been able to develop their teams through their farm system. 

Yankees don't have the greatest farm system in baseball. According to Keith Law's Farm system rankings, they are ranked 20th. The Yankees have prospects that have high ceilings down in the bottom of the system, but no one knows how they will pan out. So this year, Ownership plans on helping bring young talent to the farm through a spending spree out in the international market, and there is plenty of potential major league players that the Yankees are looking at.

The Yankees have had some success in going out in getting international prospects such as Gary Sanchez, Ivan Nova, Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, and Jose Tabata (Despite some not being on the team anymore). They also took a highly regarded prospect in Leonardo Molina who has the potential to be an elite outfielder. So they feel by going out and developing young kids from International countries, they can have success in the future.

Here are a few to that the Yankees have taken notice of:

Aledmys Diaz- SS

Highly regarded as one of the top prospects out in the international market, Diaz has the potential to be one of the top shortstops in the game. Diaz is known more for his offense with a long swing with power potential and also with great plate discipline having 139 walks to 107 strikeouts from 2008-2012. Diaz in 2011-12 batted .315/.404.500 with 12 HRs in 270 at bats.  His defense is in need of work though he does sport an above-average arm. He should command about $30 million from a team and the Yankees are out there looking to find a SS to eventually take over for Jeter

Odrisamer Despaigne- SP

While pitching with Cuba for eight seasons, Despaigne pitched to a record of 51-39 with a 3.65 ERA, with his final season pitching to a 2.58 ERA. He has a innings total of 957.3 innings in the span and has been considered a workhorse. He may not blow you away with above-average stuff, but he is considered a decent pitcher who may end up in the bullpen and performing well there. Yankees have scouted him and may be seen as a back-end starter or a middle reliever if given the chance to sign.

Dermis Garcia- SS/3B

According to scouts, some see Garcia as the top overall prospect to be signed on July 2nd. He has plus raw power with very balanced swing mechanics. Garcia also holds his own defensively but may end up outgrowing the SS position and moving to 3B. He has an average throwing arm and speed but that will change with maturity. As of now rumors have it that he has a verbal agreement with the Yankees so we will see if that stands.

There are plenty more prospects out there that the Yankees will be trying to sign on July 2nd and the future will only look brighter as these young international players develop.