According to an industry source, the Yankees don’t appear to have a serious interest in Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas.
While the Yankees were represented at a late-September showcase at the Giants’ facility in the Dominican Republic to watch Tomas, other clubs believe the Yankees will have the same reaction they did on Rusney Castillo, in whom they showed very little interest. Castillo signed a seven-year deal worth $72.5 million with the Red Sox.
It’s believed Tomas, who will turn 24 in November, is seeking more than Castillo and could be looking in the $100 million area.
“He is a good player, but for $100 million? I don’t know,’’ a baseball official said of the 6-foot-1, 230-pound right-handed hitting outfielder who batted .375 (6-for-16) with two homers and five RBIs for Cuba in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. “He is better than [Castillo], but that doesn’t mean he is worth $100 million.’’
Castillo’s contract topped the $68 million Jose Abreu got from the White Sox. Abreu is the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year. The Dodgers gave Yasiel Puig $42 million and current Red Sox Yoenis Cespedes got $32 million from the A’s.
The Yankees’ disinterest in Tomas likely isn’t only financial. They hope Carlos Beltran can play right field if Alex Rodriguez needs to DH. That means there isn’t room for Tomas.
With the Yankees holding scouting meetings next week in New York, typically hosted by GM Brian Cashman, it’s likely Cashman could have a new deal in place before the meetings begin.
Organizational candidates Gary Denbo, John Kremer and Pat McMahon have drawn interest in regards to running the minor league system. Senior VP of baseball operations Mark Newman informed the Yankees last winter he was retiring.