More than seven years ago, the Red Sox lost the Jose Contreras sweepstakes to the Yankees, but this time around, the Sox outbid the Bronx Bombers, signing the latest hot prospect out of Cuba.
According to Boston.com, the Red Sox on Tuesday confirmed the signing of 22-year-old Cuban outfielder Jorge Padron.
One report had Padron receiving a $350,000 signing bonus from the Red Sox, though it was clear that the Yankees also competed for his services.
Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus have the left-handed hitting Padron unranked, despite his dominance of right-handed pitching. Padron was among the league leaders with a .345 batting average as Pinar del Rio's left fielder in the Cuban National Series, Scoutingbook.com reports.
Padron will report to extended spring training and could begin the season with high Single-A Salem or Double-A Portland, Boston.com reports. His long-term future in Boston remains unknown.
