On Monday evening it was reported that Cuban infielder Hector Olivera would be making a decision on an MLB team by Wednesday. He reportedly agreed to a deal on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers have landed Olivera on a six-year, $62.5 million contract, which includes a $28 million signing bonus. Sanchez was notified by an industry source and the team has yet to confirm the deal.
The Dodgers and San Diego Padres were believed to be the frontrunners for Olivera with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins also having expressed strong interest. The Braves offered Olivera a four-year, $40 million deal and the Marlins presented him with a seven-year, $53 million contract. However, the Cuban infielder was seeking a six-year pact for $10 million per season.
Yahoo! Sports recently reported two stories that created more buzz around Olivera. Jeff Passan wrote, "Serious concern exists that Cuban infielder Hector Olivera has a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm," which many thought could be slowing down his process of signing with a team. Passan then noted the Padres were "positioning themselves as a favorite to land Olivera" and were considering an offer upwards of $50 million, seemingly unconcerned with the report of the potential injury.
Olivera's representation denied the report of the injury and reiterated he passed a number of physicals and conducted various private workouts to prove his health. At that point he already passed physicals with the Dodgers and Padres.
Los Angeles has been involved in the running for the 29-year-old since he defected from Cuba, with multiple sources citing the team had strong interest in signing him. However, some doubt was cast over that notion when the team was denied a second MRI of Olivera's right elbow, as they obviously expressed concern over the report of his potential UCL injury.
However, the deal is done and Olivera will now join the Dodgers. He'll likely contribute immediately and it looks like third base will be the most fitting position for him in 2015, although he has played an overwhelming majority of his professional games at second base in Cuba. Los Angeles has Howie Kendrick at second - one of the best at his position in the MLB - and the 36-year-old Juan Uribe at third, who has had a poor spring training.
In 642 games in Cuba's Serie Nacional, Olivera batted .323/.407/.505/.912 with 619 runs scored, 96 home runs, 433 RBIs and 55 stolen bases.
