The Yankees are in want of a brand new worldwide scouting director, Brian Cashman confirmed on Wednesday.
The final supervisor determined in opposition to protecting Donny Rowland within the place when his contract expired earlier this offseason. The 62-year-old spent 15 years within the function and 23 years within the Yankees group.
“Like anything else, you gotta make some very difficult decisions,” Cashman stated. “I’ve been involved with Donny Rowland for a long time. Obviously, we have worked alongside each other for a long time, and he’s run the department for quite some time. But fork in the road, contract had expired, and so I made the difficult decision to look for a different lead voice in that chair. So that’s what we’re doing at this stage.”
Cashman added that the Yankees are nonetheless within the strategy of gathering names and have but to interview any candidates. Rowland, in the meantime, didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Francys Romero first reported Rowland’s departure.
The Yankees determined to maneuver on from Rowland after spending tens of millions of {dollars} on worldwide prospects who didn’t or have but to pan out through the years.
This previous August, the staff launched 24-year-old Cuban shortstop Alexander Vargas. His $2.5 million signing bonus led the staff’s 2019 worldwide class, however he was struggling at Double-A (.633 OPS) on the time of his launch. Picked up by the Reds, Vargas went on to publish a .617 OPS for his or her Excessive-A affiliate.
One other Cuban, 20-year-old outfielder Brando Mayea, has but to play above rookie ball after signing for $4.35 million in 2023. Roderick Arias, a Dominican shortstop who was as soon as thought-about a top-100 prospect, is coming off his worst skilled season after tallying a .640 OPS at Low-A. The 21-year-old, who signed for $4 million in 2022, has additionally remodeled 20 errors in every of the final two seasons whereas additionally spending time at second and third.
One other Dominican shortstop, Mani Cedeno, signed for $2.5 million this yr earlier than hitting .183 in rookie ball, although he was solely 16.
Hans Montero signed as a shortstop for $1.7 million in 2017, however the Dominican didn’t play the place in 2025, his second straight yr of A-ball. Venezuelan outfielder Raimfer Salinas bought a $1.85 million bonus in 2017, however he was launched after receiving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing medication in 2023 and hasn’t performed professionally since.
Different pricey misses incurred underneath Rowland’s watch embody Dominican nook infielder Nelson Gomez ($2.25 million, 2014), Dominican outfielder Juan De Leon ($2 million, 2014), and Venezuelan outfielders Jonathan Amundaray ($1.5 million, 2014) and Antonio Cabello ($1.35 million, 2017).
Dominican first baseman Dérmis Garcia bought $3 million from the Yankees in 2014 and made the majors, however his huge league profession lasted simply 39 video games and was spent with the Athletics.
Whereas the Yankees burned cash on worldwide free brokers throughout Rowland’s tenure, his most notable signing was arguably Jasson Domínguez. The Dominican outfielder set a franchise report when he inked for a $5.1 million signing bonus at age 16 in 2019, and he shortly soared by way of the minor league ranks.
Domínguez, 22, remains to be discovering his method on the recreation’s highest degree after finishing his first full huge league marketing campaign. Whereas he went from being the Yankees’ on a regular basis left fielder to a bench function by season’s finish, he has flashed loads of potential and figures to be part of the Yankees’ future or a invaluable commerce chip.
A few of Rowland’s costly signings have already been concerned in trades which have straight impacted the present and up to date huge league roster. Venezuelan outfielder Everson Pereira ($1.5 million, 2017) helped the Yankees get José Caballero from the Rays, whereas Dominican outfielder Kevin Alcántara ($1 million, 2018), a top-five prospect within the Cubs’ system, went to Chicago within the Anthony Rizzo commerce. South Korean utilityman Hoy Park ($1 million, 2014) was a part of the deal that netted Clay Holmes from Pittsburgh.
Agustín Ramírez solely signed for $400,000 in 2018, however the Dominican catcher was the centerpiece of the commerce that landed Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins.
Rowland hit on another cheaper signings, together with Venezuelan utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera ($100,000, 2015), Dominican pitcher Luis Severino, ($225,000, 2011) and Dominican utilityman Miguel Andujar ($750,000, 2011).
Dominican right-hander Carlos Lagrange, presently a top-100 prospect, signed for simply $10,000 in 2022.
The jury can also be nonetheless out on two of Rowland’s more moderen high-priced signings, Dominican middle fielder Francisco Vilorio ($1.7 million, 2024) and Dominican shortstop Stiven Marinez ($1.65 million, 2024). Neither has superior previous the Dominican Summer time League.
