Overview
- General manager Brian Cashman publicly backed new international scouting chief Mario Garza, praising his people skills and talent evaluation in comments reported by The Athletic and Newsweek.
- Garza, promoted in January to replace the Yankees’ previous international director, inherits a department under scrutiny after years of costly misses and eroded relationships.
- The latest setback is the reported departure of 17-year-old Mexican right-hander Jassel Bermúdez, who had a pre-agreement with New York but has returned to the market, per reporter Wilber Sánchez and Heavy.
- Dominican shortstop Wandy Asigen, ranked No. 2 in the 2026 class by MLB Pipeline, previously abandoned his Yankees commitment to sign with the Mets for a reported $3.8 million.
- Garza plans to lean on new global player acquisitions supervisor Matt Slater to expand recruiting in Asia, with more trips and deeper engagement in markets like Japan and South Korea, a push the team frames on a 2028–2030 payoff timeline.