The Twins have made an offer as well, pending his ability to prove his age. Considering the Twins track record of finding quality players outside the US, this does not bode well for Sano.

The Pirates don't have a great record on that front either (who have they developed from Latin America in the last 10 years? Ronny Paulino and Jose Castillo?), but they have a big new Dominican complex which people seem really impressed by. Is there any evidence that the Twins have changed what they're doing in the Dominican?

I remember a few months ago, there was some story in which LaTroy Hawkins had an anecdote about an "unnamed teammate with the Twins" who was from the Dominican. Upon investigating we found that in his entire time with the Twins, LaTroy Hawkins had only played with like three players from the Dominican.

How much does the scouting director get?

Is there any evidence that the Twins have changed what they're doing in the Dominican?

Well, they've never offered anyone anywhere more than $1 million, so offering Sano ~$3 million is a change. They say that they are working to improve their Latin American program because they've been disappointment (to say the least). In the past 20 years, the Twins have signed and gotten contributions from Juan Rincon and Luis Rivas. After that, I think it's a bunch of guys who barely got a cup of coffee. They've had other Latin players, but they've always been guys that they traded for after someone else found them.

I don't know how much they really invested in non-US academies, scouting & signing, but even if it isn't much, it adds up after 20 years. If all they can get out of it is a few years of a really good reliever and a few more from an average second baseman, they need to rethink things.

I know the Pirates are desperate and all, but the man's a double amputee who hasn't played the game in nearly fort--...ooooohhhhh, they made an offer to Sano. I was about to say...

How much does the scouting director get?

Did David Wilder get hired in Pittsburgh?