MLB: Chicago Cubs Edge San Francisco Giants in Race To Sign Cuban Prospect Eddy Julio Martinez
Cuban prospect outfielder Eddy Julio Ramirez has officially signed a contract following a controversial free agency that involved the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. In the official minor league transactions from Oct. 10 to 16 given to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, the 20-year-old Martinez had signed a $3 million bonus with the Cubs.
The Giants were the first team to work out a minor league deal with the international free agent on Oct. 3 for $2.5 million and was pending for a physical but Martinez's father was seeking more money on the signing bonus, per MLB.com.
The report noted that Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein got involved when no official announcement was made about the deal with the Giants and signed Martinez for $3 million. The Giants submitted paperwork to the Commissioner's Office, proving that the deal with the Cuban happened the day after they came to terms but was based only on a series of texts and emails.
According to CBS Sports, MLB officials have stepped in and will decide which team Martinez will sign for with the verdict available in a week. Now, it looks like the Commissioner's Office has sided with the Cubs as the 20-year-old will now be a part of Chicago's growing farm system.
Chicago spent $8.55 million for their international free agents, which means that they were over their allotted bonus pool. According to Baseball America, the Cubs paid a 100 percent tax on the Martinez deal that made the deal have an overall value of $6 million.
Eddy Julio will join other international prospects that the Cubs signed last July including Venezuelan shortstop Yonathan Perlaza, Dominican outfielder Yonathan Sierra Estiwal, Panamanian catcher Miguel Amaya and third baseman Christopher Martinez from the Dominican Republic, per MLB.com.
According to MLB's Scouting Report, Martinez has the skills to become a five-tool player who can hit, hit for power, field, run and have a canon of an arm. Scouts described his body as solid and compact and praised his athleticism, even comparing him to former All-Star Andruw Jones.
The scouting report added that the 20-year old has a quick and compact power swing with the ability to hit home runs in both directions and has a good eye enough to work the counts. He also has enough speed to have base-stealing potential.
As for his defense, he has the ability to play all outfield positions but is suited for center due to his good instincts and the ability to cover the gaps in the outfield.
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