Cuban prospect Hector Olivera signs with Los Angeles Dodgers
Infielder Hector Olivera and Los Angeles have reportedly come to terms on a deal that will see the Cuban prospect donning Dodger blue in 2015.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with highly touted Cuban prospect Hector Olivera. The deal is for a reported six years and $62.5 million, including a $28 million signing bonus. The infielder had been receiving offers from around Major League Baseball for the past several weeks, with clubs such as the Padres, Braves, Athletics, and defending World Series Champion Giants showing interest.
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Olivera, the latest in a line of recent Cuban commodities that includes Yasiel Puig, Jose Abreu, and Yoenis Cespedes among others, will be the second high profile player of his nationality to sign with a major league club this off-season. Earlier in the month, the Red Sox finalized the terms of a contract with infielder Yoan Moncada, who will play second base in 2015 for the franchise, according to recent reports.
Source: Cuban INF Hector Olivera has agreed to a 6-year, $62.5 million deal with Dodgers. $28MM signing bonus. Check http://t.co/mkcBse7p5i
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) March 24, 2015
Olivera, who will turn 30 on April 5th, batted .323 with a .407 on base percentage, and .505 slugging in 10 seasons with Santiago de Cuba in the Cuban National Series. Though he has played with his home country’s national team nearly every year since 2007, he has only suited up for 642 official league games.
It is because of this that the Dodgers can expect him to be relatively fresh come this Spring, where he will join an LA squad poised to make another run at a championship. In 2014, the franchise finished 94-68, winning the National League West, before being eliminated in the divisional series round by the St. Louis Cardinals in four games.
While a spot in the infield has yet to be opened up for Moncada, it should be believed that the Dodgers would likely slate him at third, in place of 36 year old Juan Uribe.
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