Report: Astros agree to 5-year, $47.5M deal with Yulieski Gurriel
The Houston Astros began the season's second half with a bang Friday, agreeing to a five-year, $47.5-million deal with highly touted Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel, a source told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
The club hasn't yet confirmed the deal.
Houston plans to play him at third base when he's ready, possibly in three weeks or so, a source told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Gurriel had worked out with numerous clubs prior to his signing, including the Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, and New York Mets.
Houston has primarily used Luis Valbuena, who is slashing .269/.364/.474 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs, at third base throughout 2016.
The Astros also have prized infield prospect Alex Bregman waiting in the wings, and with Carlos Correa entrenched at shortstop for the foreseeable future, it was presumed Bregman would be the team's eventual third baseman, but things appear to have changed.
The 32-year-old Gurriel was declared a free agent June 13, and has been on major-league teams' radars since his first World Baseball Classic in 2006.
Gurriel and his younger brother, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., defected from Cuba in February, fleeing from the Cuban national team hotel during a competition in the Dominican Republic.
The elder Gurriel brother hit .488/.569/.858 with 11 home runs in 35 games last year with Industriales, and played 15 years in the Serie Nacional.