Angelo Gumbs Signs with Yankees for $750,000

Written by Greg Fertel | 13 August 2010

According to Baseball America, the Yankees signed their second round pick, Angelo Gumbs, for $750,000. Major League Baseball's slot recommendation for his pick was $436,500, so the Yankees compensated him very well.

Here is what I wrote about Gumbs shortly after he was drafted:

With their top two picks, the Yankees took players who appear to be somewhat similar. Gumbs has played centerfield as well as shortstop, and has excelled there. The Yankees haven't decided where they will play him yet, but he is currently more advanced in the outfield than he is at shortstop.

Personally, I'd love for the Yankees to start him off playing the infield. It seems like it is easier for an athletic player to move from the IF to the OF over the other way around. Playing on the same team as Culver could limit the amount of shortstop playing time available for Gumbs, though.

Gumbs is still just 17 years old, so he has a ton of development time ahead of him. While that means he won't make a big league appearance for a long time, it also means that the Yankees' coaches have plenty of time to work with him and mold him into the player that they want him to be.

The scouting report on Gumbs is impressive. Before the draft, the folks over at Baseball Beginnings wondered whether he was the best athlete in the entire draft, saying:

An athlete. Chance to be true 5-tool player, with grades 50 or better in each tool. Whippy and strong athletic body; could play SS or CF. Should become multi-platform offensive and defensive threat.

This adds Gumbs to list of players who have recently signed, the other two being Daniel Burawa and Rob Segedin.