Yankees pursuing Taiwanese shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin

May 31, 2012 by Mike Axisa 54 Comments

Via Taiwan Baseball, the Yankees are after 16-year-old Taiwanese shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin. They had originally agreed to sign him for $350k back in 2010, but the deal fell apart because he was too young to turn pro at the time. Bidding is expected to approach $2M this time around. “For sure we will make an offer that is higher than the current offers to get him to join the Yankees,” said Ken Su, the team’s scout in Taiwan. “Our organization has given instructions to get (Lin) at any cost.”

MLB.com recently ranked Lin as the 18th best international free agent on the market, noting that he’s a burner from the left side of the plate with little present power but a strong arm and solid defensive skills. He’s listed at 5-foot-8 and 160 lbs., so c’mon growth spurt. It’s worth noting that Lin will be subject to the spending restrictions implemented by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement come July 2nd, so expect him to sign before then. The Yankees are a very popular team in Taiwan thanks to the success of Chien-Ming Wang, and that can only help their pursuit of Lin and other prospects.

CountryClub

Nice! get it done.
Robinson Tilapia

My 11 month-old seems to be grasping objects more with his left hand and would not count against the international cap.
- MannyGeee
  
  yeah, but where’s his V-Lo sitting?
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    His command seems a bit off. When he tries to roll a ball back to me, it tends to miss, at times, by a wide margin. Definitely some AJ in him.
    - vin
      
      He might just need a personal catcher.
    - RI$P FTW
      
      Does he know his way around a creampie?
- Fernando
  
  Great, we’ll sign him to a 18 year, $12 million deal. He’ll only have to pitch a few innings in the playoffs (marte) or not at all (feliciano). Sorry, no meal or travel money.
- LiterallyFigurative
  
  Teach him a slider.
AnthonyD

Linsanity
- Rich in NJ
  
  Let’s hope he’s better that a backup.
  - AnthonyD
    
    Oh no you di-int
- ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa
  
  Dang it! I was gonna say that.
- Alex
  
  Thank you! I thought nobody else say it!
steve s

Nice negotiating style Mr. Su. The “at any cost” leading with your chin statement is sure going to make the Yankee front office/owners thrilled.
- AnthonyD
  
  Isn’t that the edict they were given by the folks at Goldman when negotiating the A Rod contract for / through YES?
  - steve s
    
    It sure worked out that way but even Goldman knows to keep it under your hat even if those are the marching orders.
- RI$P FTW
  
  He just read a statement written by Randy Levine.
  - Fernando
    
    LMAO
  - Bubba
    
    I’d laugh if it wasn’t probably true. The man is a real nimrod.
RetroRob

So he was only 14 when the Yankees first tried to sign him?

I also question if Ken Su should be advertising that the Yankees have told the organization to sign Lin at any cost.

That said, sign him!
- Dan
  
  I think he is actually 18 now… It seems like he was 16 when the Yankees signed him in 2010.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    MLB.com has a 1995 (!) birthday listed.
    - Cris Pengiucci
      
      Shit, he’s younger than my daughter. Guess her chances of an MLB career are shot.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        Don’t give up the dream.
    - I Live In My Mom’s Basement
      
      He was 16 in 2010, and he is still 16 today. It’s an amazing world.
LarryM.,Fl.

The Yankees must have their crystal ball repaired because the future must be bright and clear with the 5’8”, 160lb. player. Who has good speed and defensive skills. I’m sure there are a few thousand of these kids available in the states. I hope that they check out the mother and father for any growth spurt possibilities.
- MannyGeee
  
  5’8″, 160 lbs is still in Pedrioa territory, aint it?
  
  just sayin
  - Cris Pengiucci
    
    Can a Taiwanese player be “gritty”?
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      He could be bucketfuls of gritty.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    He can’t impact whether he grows any taller, but you have to expect he’ll fill out at least a bit from 16 years old on. He’s at Pedroia’s listed weight already.
    
    I’m not too worried about the height of a middle IF. Rollins and Furcal are listed 5’8″ too. Ray Durham was as well. Knoblauch was listed 5’9″ and so was Eric Young. Joe Morgan was 5’7″. Puckett (not a IF, obviously) was 5’8″. Rizzuto was 5’6″.
    
    I would guess that the majority of middle IFs might still be under 6’0″.
  - Greg
    
    it’s a misprint – he’s really 6’8″
- pat
  
  5’8″ 160 is pretty big for a 16 year old.
  - CS Yankee
    
    My boy just turned 16 yesterday…6′-2″, 180. FWIW
    - Cris Pengiucci
      
      Sign him now! He’s sure to add power as he grows into that frame. And if he’s lefty ….
      - CS Yankee
        
        Switch at the dish, throws right.
        
        He first reached for stuff with the left hand but went righty on us somehow.
    - Greg
      
      my son also just turned 16, and he’s 6′ 220 lbs. Luckily, he can shoot a basketball, cause he can’t hit a baseball worth a lick.
- Ted Nelson
  
  There’s the whole playing baseball thing besides just looking pretty in your uniform.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

As long as he doesn’t end up in the hands of this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ1aG1r6aDk&feature=related
LiterallyFigurative

Maybe the Yanks are trying to get the next Ichiro. Fast, not great power, great defense.

Interesting to see if he makes contact at an absurd rate or something.
JohnC

Wonder if this means they will not be pursuing Soler if they are gonna go all out for this kid
- Rick in Philly
  
  The problem with Soler is you don’t know when/if he’ll become eligible to sign.
Andrew Brotherton

Every scouting report says he is far better than 18th in the top international prospects in this market. I hope we are still in it on Cabrera and Torrens as well. We could have a really nice haul. I wish Soler would get posted soon.
gageagainstthemachine

Last time they scouted a skinny high school shortstop it seemed to work out quite nicely for the club for 17 seasons (and still counting). Let’s hope lightning strikes twice!
- gageagainstthemachine
  
  disclaimer: I know they have scouted many shortstops since and they’re not exactly the heirs apparent at this point. Simply reflecting on Jeter’s tenure and hoping for a great successor.
I Live In My Mom’s Basement

Gotta love the Taiwan Baseball site. They have a pitcher there that throws 150!

(kph)
RI$P FTW

Skinny, foreign 16 yr old? Sign me up.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Isn’t that illegal?
Paul VuvuZuvella

Surely my negative scouting reports on Cito leading to this move…
Robert

Sounds like he is a little insurance in case CC Culver does not pan out.
Foghorn Leghorn

go get him…this is the Yanks answer to superstar Jose Iglesias!
ThatstheMelkyMesaWaysa

This is Linsane. I mean we need an infielder… But if he is younger than Bryce Harper we’ve got some waiting to do.
oldyankee7

It sounds like this SS is another Brett; Both hit left handed, both are very good on defense and both are very fast.
Put a couple of guys like that on a team that has 2-3 mashers and you have a formula for a winning team.
FT

He is 18 yrs old.
- FT
  
  He is actually born on 2/15/1994 in chinese taipei(Taiwan) baseball association database.