The Chicago White Sox announced today that they have signed Cuban Slugger Jose Dariel Abreu to a 6-year $68 million deal, making him the biggest free-agent Cuban signing of all time. He is also the biggest non-Japanese foreign player free-agent signing in MLB history.
Abreu is widely considered to be Cuba’s top slugger amongst baseball experts. The 26-year-old first baseman tied for the Cuban league lead in home runs last season with 19 in just 264 at bats.
Abreu represented Cuba in this springs World Baseball Classic where he went 9 for 25 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.
The deal includes a $10 million signing bonus and pays Abreu $7 million in each of 2014 and 2015 before going to double digits in each of the remaining years.
“I was talking about [the risk] with a GM of another club and he pointed out every free-agent deal has a risk and comes with potential for down side,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “You can choose to sit and do nothing, which is the safest route, or aggressively address need.
“For players who haven’t played in the states, it’s a calculated risk, but one we had to take. If we are going to get this thing right, and get it done as quickly as we want it done, we are going to have to be bold and be aggressive.”
In light of the success of defected Cuban stars Yasiel Puig and Yoenis Cespedes, the interest in Abreu who is entering his prime years and looks ready to step straight into a major league lineup was immense. With Abreu also being free from Major League Baseball’s International Signing Bonus rules and restrictions, it also had the effect of driving up the price.
There is little doubt that Abreu has talent, and he has been called the best hitter not in Major League Baseball. In a previous Grantland article, Oakland Athletics assistant GM David Forst compared Abreu to Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, and writer Jonah Keri called him the best hitter in the world. The numbers Abreu has put up in the Cuban League are staggering.
“A .453 batting average; .597 on-base percentage; .986 slugging percentage. Thirty-three homers and 93 runs batted in … in 212 at-bats.
You look at the numbers, squint, and then look again. These are Baseball Stars numbers, a video game creation, with abilities cranked up to the max. There’s no way a professional baseball player could have done this.
Except someone did. His name is Jose Abreu. He just might be the best hitter in the world. And you’ve probably never heard of him.”
The move likely means that current White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko will be allowed to explore the free agent market.
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