So instructs have started and a few happenings seem to be going on with the demotions of a few players.
First of all, the guys who are coming stateside seem to be the following...
Gary Sanchez, Fernando Perez, Damien Taveras, and Eladio Moronta are now in camp.
Sanchez was the big fish from last yrs INTL FA period who will be slotting into the starting catching role in the GCL. Fernando Perez was previously Damian Arredondo, who was signed, but then voided and suspended for identity fraud. He was re-instated in January and quickly signed. He is really 18 or 19 by now and apparently runs a 6.3 60 yd dash, which is incredible. He'll be a starting infielder for the GCL team as well. Taveras is a DSL holdover who just mashed last yr at the catchers position. Reports say that he has been killing the ball this spring in the Dominican, and he has a real chance of platooning with JR Murphy in SI or with Sanchez in the GCL. And Eladio Moronta is a 20 yr old that we signed in November. He was coming off a suspension as well for lying about his age and signed for a 570K bonus. He is being compared to Raul Mondesi, a guy with a big bat and a bit arm. He'll probably also start in the GCL with a chance for promotion to the long season leagues should he show he can hit.
Other info on two pitchers that the yankees have their eyes on. One is Carlos Mattias, a hard throwing latin pitcher who was initially signed by Boston, but got suspended for lying about his age. He's short statured (5'11") and presumed to be 18 or 19, but throws upwards of 99mph. He is expected to receive a 7 figure bonus and looks like the Yankees are the frontrunners at this time.
The other is Rafael Depaula, the tall, slender dominican pitcher who was suspended for lying about his age. He's back on the market now and has been squarely in the sights of the yankees. He tops out in the high 90s and has a plus potential curve already. Sounds like he'll be another 7 figure bonus guy. He has a workout planned with the yankees on the 23rd which could rapidly turn into a contract
Other notes...Christian Garcia is looking healthy and strong after another injury plagued yr. Colin Curtis is just mashing in big league camp and with his strong AFL season, he might be putting himself back onto the prospect map. Slade Heathcott is surprising a lot of people in camp with his advanced bat and is quickly looking like a lock to being in the long season leagues. And of note, it looks like JR Murphy is going to be in extended spring training and eventually SI for 2010. His grouping in instructs has given him away, with Kyle Higashioka in Charleston.