The Brew Man Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2648850clipThe name made me picture a fat guy working the door at a salsa club, but Wily Mo Pena was apparently the next great Yankee.It was 1999 and George Steinbrenner had just shelled out $3.7 million to retain Pena's services for five years, before the 17-year-old had played a single minor league game. Pena received a stunning $2.4 million of it up front as a signing bonus.Even more extraordinary was a stipulation in the contract that if Pena was not on the Yankees major-league roster by 2003, he would be placed on waivers, making him available to other teams. You knew the Yanks were sky-high on this kid if they agreed to that kind of ultimatum.The Pena buzz quickly cooled when he hit .247 in the rookie league, and then .207 at Single-A Greensboro. Treading water at the Mendoza Line in Single A? Not what Yankees fans, or Steinbrenner, had in mind.clip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyline Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 I don't know about next great slugger, but I won't deny that it's possible.Thanks for posting this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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