According to industry sources, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Cuban infielder Hector Olivera to a six-year, $62.5 million contract. The team has not confirmed the deal or details of the deal, but there's some more information available, specifically about Olivera's potential elbow injury.
Just a few weeks ago Yahoo! Sports reported there is "serious concern" Olivera has a damaged UCL in his throwing arm. The Cuban's representation denied the report and said he has proven his health after passing a number of physicals and conducting various private workouts. The Dodgers made sure they covered themselves with this issue in the six-year deal.
"If Hector Olivera needs Tommy John surgery, there will be an extra year and $1 million added to Olivera's contract, according to an industry source," writes Robert Murray of MLB Daily Rumors. "It is currently unclear whether or not he'll need Tommy John surgery, but one source says 'he does have something' wrong within his elbow."
This is similar to what the Boston Red Sox included in starting pitcher John Lackey's five-year, $82.5 million deal he signed prior to the 2010 season. The clause mandated an extra year be added to his deal with a salary of $500,000 if he were to undergo Tommy John surgery at any point during his tenure with the team. Lackey went down with an elbow injury in 2011 and was forced to undergo the procedure. The clause then kicked in and he will earn that $500,000 this upcoming season, but the St. Louis Cardinals benefit from it since he was traded there last season.
It's no surprise the Dodgers included this in his deal because they reportedly asked for a second MRI of Olivera's elbow and were denied that request, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Heyman noted the first MRI was taken in the Dominican Republic and "may not seem as reliable as a team's own doctor's work."
The injury may have even dissuaded the other frontrunner in the process, the San Diego Padres, from even making him an offer. Murray also reported a few days ago that the Padres took themselves out of the running for Olivera.
We'll see how the Dodgers opt to utilize the former top offensive player in Cuba.
