This helps explain why the Yankees hoarded all that international signing bonus money.
The Yankees signed Osiel Rodriguez, a 16-year-old pitching prospect out of Cuba, for $600,000 on Sunday.
The Yankees had made trades Saturday and Sunday to accrue the rights to spend more money on the international market — gaining $1.5 million with trades of relievers Chasen Shreve, Giovanny Gallegos and Caleb Frare — with Rodriguez apparently being part of that plan.
Baseball America ranked Rodriguez as the No. 1 pitcher in the international market and No. 5 prospect overall. He reportedly has a fastball that touches 96 mph as a still-developing teenager.