The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the signing of Cuban right-hander Yaisel Sierra to a six-year contract on Sunday. It’s believed Sierra’s deal is worth $30 million. Frankie Montas, recovering from surgery to remove a rib, was placed on the 60-day disabled list to clear room for Sierra on the 40-man roster.
A contract agreement between the Dodgers and Sierra was first reported in January. Speaking at the Dodgers’ FanFest event on Jan. 30, president of baseball operations said he hoped the Cuban native would join the club for Spring Training.
“It’s a complicated process. It’s just going to take time, and there’s not a ton of transparency to how that works in terms of timing,” he said.
On Friday, Friedman indicated Sierra’s arrival was pending his obtaining a visa. The 24 year old joins an impressive group of talent the Dodgers have added over the course of the current international signing period.
Los Angeles quickly exceeded their bonus pool money and are paying a 100 percent tax penalty on dollars spent during the current signing period. Moreover, they will not be able to sign international bonus-pool free agents for more than $300,000 in each next two international signing periods, beginning in July 2016.
Sierra left Cuba last April and was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball in late December. In four seasons spent pitching in the Cuban League, he was 16-21 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.49 WHIP.
Of his 131 games pitched, Sierra has made 25 starts; the bulk of which came in 2013 when the right-hander started 18 games. Sierra pitched exclusively out of the bullpen during the 2014-15 season.
He finished that year with a 6.10 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and averaged eight strikeouts per nine innings.
