Cuban infielder Yulieski Gourriel has been the most sought after free agent currently in the international market. Gourriel defected from Cuba in Feburary and was declared a free agent in June. Today he signed a 5-year $47.5 million deal with the Houston Astros according to MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez,
Source: INF Yulieski Gurriel agrees to 5-year, $47.5 million deal with #Astros #Cuba More on https://t.co/mkcBseoZWQ pic.twitter.com/6uj12AgGGL
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) July 15, 2016
Cuban Infielder Yulieski Gourriel Agrees to Deal with Houston Astros
There has been much speculation to where Gourriel would end up. The New York Mets and New York Yankees among other were interested in Gourriel. Both teams even recently worked him out.
The Astros will now add Gourriel to an already surging team. After starting out very cold, the Astros have picked things up and sit in second place in the American League West with a 48-41 record. The Texas Rangers stumbled into the All-Star break by winning only two of their last ten. That allowed the Astros to pull within five games back. They also sit two games back of the Toronto Blue Jays who are currently occupying the second Wild Card spot.
Gourriel most recently played for the Industriales de La Habana in Cuba and hit .500/.589/.874 in 174 at bats during the 2015 season. He also added 15 home runs and 51 RBI in that short sample of at bats. Overall in the course of his career, he has hit for a slash line of .335/.417/.580 with 1585 hits, 250 home runs, 1018 RBI, and 121 stolen bases in 4725 at bats. The Astros will hope that Gourriel’s numbers will translate anywhere close to what they were in Cuba.
While the Astros will probably make some other moves before the trade deadline, this signing is a big statement for both the present and the future. Third baseman Luis Valbuena is currently manning third, but his contract is up at the end of the season. Perhaps Gourriel will take over for him after next year.
LAGOS DE MORENO, MEXICO – OCTOBER 25: Yulieski Gourriel of Cuba hits the ball during the Baseball Bronze Medal Match between Mexico and Cuba during Day 11 of the XVI Pan American Games at the Pan American Baseball Stadium on October 25, 2011 in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
