The international signing period is officially underway, and for Major League Baseball clubs, that means one thing: it’s time to lock in the next wave of global talent. This year’s window opened Thursday and runs through December 15, giving teams nearly a full year to ink deals with amateur prospects from outside the United States and Canada.
For the New York Yankees, this stretch of the calendar is typically a busy one. They’re known for being aggressive on the international market, and with a bonus pool of around $5.4 million this year, the expectation was that they'd once again be in the thick of things, chasing high-upside talent from Latin America and beyond.
But there’s a wrinkle this time around - and it’s a significant one.
The Yankees are currently without an international scouting director. Danny Rowland, who had been with the organization for 15 years and led their international efforts, was let go in November. Since then, the front office has yet to name a replacement, and according to sources, they’re “not close” to doing so.
That’s more than just an empty chair in the front office. The international scouting director plays a pivotal role in identifying and building relationships with young talent - often years before they’re eligible to sign. With Rowland gone and no successor in place, the Yankees are navigating one of the most relationship-driven periods of the baseball calendar without a key figure at the helm.
Now, to be clear, many of these deals - especially the big-ticket ones - are largely agreed upon well in advance. The top prospects often have verbal commitments locked in long before the signing period officially begins. So while the Yankees’ current front-office gap could complicate things, it doesn’t mean they’re suddenly out of the mix entirely.
Still, the timing isn’t ideal. Other teams are moving quickly, including their crosstown rivals.
In a notable twist, one international prospect who had a verbal agreement with the Yankees backed out and instead signed with the New York Mets for $3.9 million. That’s a significant swing - not just financially, but symbolically - in a rivalry that extends far beyond the MLB regular season.
The Yankees have the resources. They’ve got the reputation.
But right now, they’re operating without a key piece of their scouting infrastructure. And in a competitive international market where relationships, timing, and trust are everything, that could be enough to shift the balance - at least in the short term.
There’s still plenty of time left in the signing window, and the Yankees have shown they can pivot quickly when needed. But as it stands today, they’re playing catch-up in a race where every step matters.