Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | Yankees Sign Former Braves Arm Manolo Reyes For $600,000

Manolo Reyes has a 99-mph fastball and a $600,000 contract with the Yankees, though the Dominican righthander still has a few hurdles to clear before that deal is complete.

The Yankees recently agreed to sign the 22-year-old Reyes, but his contract is still contingent upon him passing MLB's investigation into his age and identity, along with his ability to secure a visa from the U.S. Consulate. Given Reyes' history, the approval process may take some time to sort out.

Reyes originally signed with the Braves on May 19, 2009 when he was 19. That summer, Reyes pitched in the Dominican Summer League on a pending contract (which is no longer allowed under current rules). Reyes made six appearances for the Braves, allowing 15 runs (11 earned) in 9 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts and 13 walks. However, MLB ended up terminating Reyes' contract and suspending him for one year due to issues with his paperwork.

By the story that Reyes has presented to MLB, he is one of 14 brothers and he was declared late. His father, who is of Haitian descent, passed away in 1996, and while Reyes' original birth certificate said he was born to a midwife, an MLB investigation revealed he was born in a hospital. Reyes is still using the same identity and the same Nov. 19, 1989 date of birth that he used to sign with the Braves, and he has since provided more paperwork to MLB to support his claim that he is 22.

While he was suspended, Reyes joined Alfredo Arias and Gary Goodman of the Arias and Goodman academy, the prominent Dominican program that has also worked with players such as righthander Juan Carlos Paniagua, Mariners outfielder Phillips Castillo and Astros outfielder Ariel Ovando, among others, and Reyes' story has some parallels to Paniagua's.

During that time, Reyes' fastball climbed to the mid-90s and has touched 99 mph, along with a hard breaking ball and a hard splitter, though his control remains erratic. If Reyes can get cleared through MLB and acquire a visa, the Yankees will have added an intriguing power arm to their system without his bonus counting against their 2012-2013 international signing bonus pool, since the new rules on international spending don't begin until July 2.

They just may have to wait a while to find out.

If Reyes is still operating under the same name and D.O.B., how can MLB justify terminating the original contract and approving this one?

Posted by Joe | June 7, 2012 at 4:53 pm | Shortcut

And IF nothing has actually changed, can the Braves make some form of grievance that Reyes should still be their property, for the terms of the original contract?

Posted by Joe | June 7, 2012 at 4:58 pm | Shortcut

Any false documents, either direct or indirect, subject a player to being ineligible to sign for one year. My guess is that there isn't much the Braves would be able to do here.

Posted by Ben Badler | June 7, 2012 at 5:31 pm | Shortcut

It's absolutely ridiculous for MLB to suspend a player from a lesser developed country for having an error (that in no way benefits him) on his birth certificate. MLB shows its ignorance by trying to impose US standards on players from countries where it's impossible for those standards to be met. I'm happy that, in spite of MLB's efforts, Reyes benefits from the situation.

The one year penalty should only apply to players who are trying to abuse the system. Will MLB suspend a prospect if his birth certificate incorrectly spelled a parent's name? If it listed the wrong eye color?

Posted by dave | June 8, 2012 at 1:47 pm | Shortcut

Legal issues aside, their is the matter of nutrition, endurance, acclimating to a new team's pitching philosophy and placement for Reyes. As I have mentioned many times in different posts over the years, VELOCITY is only one facet of becoming an effective pitcher. Hitting your spots with the right pitch at the right time in the count over the strike zone trumps a fastball over 93 MPH. A change-up that is delivered almost identically with late movement separates the true pitchers from mere power throwing studs. Add a two seamer, a four seamer, a cutter and a slurve or split finger with the ability to change location for strikes any time in the count and you have a nearly unbeatable repertoire from the late '80's through the early 90's.

Posted by LemdaGem | June 8, 2012 at 11:18 pm | Shortcut

i just wonder if he can get it over the plate more than off . i dont know if the braves still have any rights to this arm. alot would depend upon the length of the origijnal contract and/or if the braves voided it. if the braves paid him i believe they could argue he still gets to see all those retired jersey's from all those great pitchers. braves

Posted by john matacola | June 8, 2012 at 11:29 pm | Shortcut