justinevans
07/05/06, 07:21 AM
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."
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."