Report: Dodgers Sign Cuban Prospect Yasiel Puig to Record Seven-Year, $42 Million Deal

by

Jun 28, 2012

We've recently seen teams gamble on Cuban defectors Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler. Now, the Dodgers are getting in the mix and rolling the dice on Yasiel Puig.

The Dodgers have reached an agreement with Puig on a record seven-year, $42 million contract, according to ESPN.com.

Puig's deal is reportedly pending a physical exam, but it would be the largest dollar figure given to a Cuban defector. It surpasses the four years and $36 million that Cespedes received from the Athletics this offseason, as well as the nine-year, $30 million deal that the Cubs gave Soler.

The Dodgers recently signed Andre Ethier to an $85 million extension, so it's obvious the new ownership group is willing to spend money in order to field a winner.

Puig, a 21-year-old outfielder, 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's also considered an extremely fast player, so the potential is obviously there.

That apparently was enough for the Dodgers to join the high risk game.

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