Due to exceeding their allotted bonus pool during the international signing period last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced penalties for their excessive spending. For one, the team had to pay a 100-percent tax for every dollar they spent above their given pool.
More importantly, Los Angeles is not able to sign pool-eligible international players for more than $300,000 during this year’s signing period, which began on July 2, and during the 2017-18 international signing period.
However, the Dodgers are still able to sign players to any amount who are exempt from spending limitations, and one player who fit that mold was Cuban Yulieski Gurriel. The infielder worked out for several clubs over the past month or so, including the Dodgers.
While Los Angeles may have been viewed as a favorite to sign the 32-year-old Gurriel given their deep pockets, he’s agreed to a five-year contract with the Houston Astros, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com:
The Astros and Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel have agreed to a 5-year deal worth $47.5 million, according to industry sources, pending a physical
It was previously reported Gurriel was seeking at least a four-year contract, with the expectation it would near $50 million. Gurriel is regarded as a highly-talented player who is both professional on and off the field.
In 49 games for the Industriales in 2015, he hit .500/.589/.874 with 20 doubles, 15 home runs and 51 RBIs. His reported joining the Astros makes for an interesting situation as the club recently moved Alex Bregman to third base with Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve anchored up the middle.
