Days after being cleared by the OFAC, free agent Yoan Lopez has agreed to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Ben Badler of Baseball America.
(Updated) Source: Yoan Lopez’s deal with #Dbacks is for $8.27MM. He turned down $9MM to sign with Arizona.
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) January 13, 2015
The Cuban defector’s contract has been named the highest-ever bonus for an international amateur. The Diamondbacks managed to beat out several teams including division-rival Padres and Dodgers, but not without a price.
The 21-year-old is subject to international spending limits, meaning the D-backs will pay a 100 percent overage on it pool allocation and will be unable to spend a $300,000 signing bonus on any international amateur for the next two July 2nd signing periods. The Diamondbacks will begin their sentence the 2015-16 signing year with the largest international bonus pool. Arizona will join the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Rays as teams who will begin their signing closure this summer.
The Diamondbacks have invested quite a bit in this young talent. Badler estimates that given Lopez’s age and talent level, he could start off in Class A. Bonus pools forced RHP to sign a minor league contract, but the Diamondbacks plan on inviting him to Major League Spring Training.
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