ESPN wrote:The agreement is pending a physical exam, and would be the largest dollar figure accorded a Cuban defector, surpassing the four-year, $36 million deal Oakland Athletics outfielder Yoenis Céspedes received in February.
"Puig's contract with the Dodgers should be completed by Friday. The young man could play in the major leagues this year, maybe in time to help with the race for the playoffs or the World Series," said the source, who added that the agreement includes some clauses that could permit Puig to become a free agent after his fourth year.
ESPN wrote:The 21-year-old Puig batted .330 with 17 home runs, 47 RBIs and 78 runs scored in 327 at-bats with the Cienfuegos Elefantes in the 2010-11 Cuban National Series. He averaged .370 in 46 at-bats in the playoffs.
Puig, who also was considered the fastest player in Cuban baseball, was left off the Cienfuegos team for the 2011-12 season after having been caught on several occasions trying to escape the country. He finally succeeded in defecting last month and established residency in Mexico.
Law thinks it was an over-spend reaction by LA to snag up what they can before the cap on international signings takes effect. Said he looked out of shape in Mexico and his arm wasn't as strong as it was when he was in Cuba, and unlike Soler or Cespedes, he never played international ball, so MLB scouts haven't had a good look at him yet.
heyzeus wrote:It's a good time to be a Cuban ballplayer.
Nope, it's a good time to have recently been a Cuban ballplayer. New restrictions on spending start next week, so everyone in Cuban ball after Puig is screwed.