How Yankees can spend international bonus pool money instead of Ohtani

The New York Yankees made multiple trades that resulted in acquiring international bonus pool money in hopes of spending it on Shohei Ohtani. Now out of the Ohtani sweepstakes, what can the Yankees do with all that money?

Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees made multiple trades over the last six months with one goal in mind: signing Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.

The Yankees have traded Matt Wotherspoon, Dillon McNamara, Yefry Ramirez, Garrett Cooper, and Caleb Smith since July, getting just international bonus pool money in return. The moves allowed the Yankees to build up $3.5 million, the second most of any MLB team, to offer to Ohtani.

Unfortunately, Ohtani turned down the New York Yankees, refusing to even meet with them in person. So now the Yankees have $3.5 million in international bonus pool money with no Japanese superstar to spend it on.

Luckily for the Yanks, the Atlanta Braves were just stripped of 13 international players due to a three-year international signing scandal.

The top player from that baker’s dozen is Venezuelan shortstop Kevin Maitan. Maitan, however, recently signed with the Los Angeles Angels.

Some of the other talented free agents include Dominican shortstops Yunior Severino and Yenci Pena, Dominican right-handed pitcher Juan Contreras, and South Korean shortstop Ji-Hwan Bae.

Severino is an 18-year-old switch hitter with big offensive potential. Here is MLB.com‘s scouting report on Severino’s offense:

"Overall, Severino is considered an offensive-minded middle infielder who has displayed power from both sides of the plate, which is impressive because he’s far from the biggest — or strongest — prospect in this year’s class. Scouts particularly like the teenager’s bat speed and aggressive approach in the batter’s box."

Pena is 17 years old and hits from the right side. Scouts are impressed with his advanced approach at the plate, per MLB.com:

"For now, Pena is viewed as an athletic shortstop with good actions on both offense and defense. He has a balanced approach at the plate and has shown a fluid stroke that could generate more power as he matures. He has a knack for understanding how pitchers are trying to attack him and makes adjustments quickly."

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Contreras is 18 years old and still has time to fill out his lanky frame. According to MLB.com, Contreras already hits 95 mph with his fastball and has a slider that could end up being his best pitch. Throw in a developing changeup and curveball and Contreras has the makings of a potential future ace.

Bae is an 18-year-old left-handed hitter. When the Braves signed Bae, special assistant Chad MacDonald compared him to Trea Turner, who MacDonald signed when he was with the San Diego Padres. Here’s what MacDonald had to say about Bae:

"He’s very athletic. He stays at shortstop, he’s going to be a solid to plus defender there. His bat-to-ball skills are really good. There’s more power in the bat. If everything clicks, we have a left-handed version of Trae Turner, who I signed in San Diego. Again, maybe not that much power, but certainly the impact speed and defense, with bat-to-ball skills and a left-handed hitter."

The New York Yankees have international money to spend and there are only so many players to spend it on. Severino, Pena, Contreras, and Bae are a few of the names to look out for when the Yankees refocus their sights on the international free agent market.

Next: New York Yankees 2018 Roster Prediction Roundtable

Losing out on Shohei Ohtani stings, but it’s time for the Yankees to throw their money elsewhere and add depth to their already loaded farm system.

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