The Red Sox suffered more than one loss Friday. They dropped the first game of their series with the Orioles, and they also lost out on Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.
The Phillies have signed Gonzalez to a six-year deal worth more than $50 million, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan. Gonzalez reportedly could earn upward of $60 million as part of the deal, which makes it a record-setting contract for an international player.
The Red Sox have long been linked to Gonzalez, with team president and CEO Larry Lucchino even admitting Thursday that the club was looking “pretty hard” at the right-hander. Passan reports that the bidding between Philadelphia and Boston went right down to the wire, with the Phillies ultimately offering more money.
Gonzalez, who defected from Cuba earlier this year, impressed scouts and evaluators during his workout. The 26-year-old reportedly tops out at 96 mph, and he could be ready to pitch in the majors very soon.
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