The island nation of Cuba has been churning out MLB prospects like fine cigars recently, and Yasmany Tomas appears to be the latest player to strike it rich.
The 24-year-old outfielder has agreed to a six-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks worth $68.5 million, industry sources told MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez on Wednesday. According to his sources, the deal is pending a physical and includes an opt-out clause after four years.
After spending seven years playing for the Havana Industriales and participating in last year’s World Baseball Classic, Tomas defected from Cuba last summer and has attended private workouts with a number of teams, including the Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox, of course, already have two Cuban outfielders in Yoenis Cespedes and Rusney Castillo, who will make slightly more than Tomas after signing a seven-year, $72.5 million contract with Boston in August.
Tomas is projected as a corner outfielder with significant pop — enough for his agent to claim that the slugger has “a lot more power” than fellow Cuban Jose Abreu, who earned Rookie of the Year honors with the Chicago White Sox in 2014 after leading all rookies with 36 home runs.
Arizona was decimated by injuries in the outfield during a disappointing 2014 campaign, but 2015 could bring an improved lineup that includes Tomas, Mark Trumbo and A.J. Pollock.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@AmazinAvenue
