The Yankees don’t always get their man. According to several reports, Cuban shortstop Adeinis Hechevarria has agreed to a four-year, $10 million deal with the Blue Jays.
The Yankees were believed to be the front-runner to sign the 21-year-old prospect, but he passed on the Yankees because of Derek Jeter's looming contract extension, the New York Post reported. Hechevarria did not want to wait for Jeter to retire. Scouts believe the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Hechevarria could have made the jump to second base and offered the pinstripes a successor for Robinson Cano, whose contract expires after the 2011 season. However, Hechevarria doesn’t want to change positions, either.
According to El Nuevo Herald, a Spanish version of the Miami Herald, the Jays swooped in and finalized a deal with the shortstop. Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos had no comment on Sunday.
"If there's a report that says we have an agreement, then we don't have any agreement." Anthopoulos told the Sporting News. "I don't want to lie, and I don't want to comment."
Hechevarria has been compared to highly touted Cuban shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias, who received an $8.2 million contract from the Red Sox. However, Hechevarria reportedly has a stronger bat, which is why he secured a heftier salary than his compatriot.
