Dodgers Report: Dodgers Sign Cuban Infielder Alexander Guerrero
While it was reported earlier this morning that the Dodgers were out on Cuban starter Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, it sounds like they’ve allocated their resources towards another Cuban player.
After striking gold with outfielder Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers have signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero to a seven-year $32 million contract.
Dionisio Soldevila of ESPNDeportes.com was the first to report the news:
Source: Dodgers sign Cuban IF Alexander Guerrero for $32 million and 7 years
— Dionisio Soldevila (@dSoldevila) July 23, 2013
Guerrero defected from Cuba in January, but hasn’t played regularly since 2011. The 26-year old infielder will report to AA and will play primarily second base.
With Mark Ellis’ deal expiring at the end of the season, the Dodgers were long rumored to have interest in free agent second basemen Chase Utley and Robinson Cano.
However, Soldevila tweeted another tidbit about Guerrero and he could be in LA by seasons end:
Dodgers’ plan with Guerrero is to play him a couple of weeks in AA or AAA and then send him to LA to play 2B
— Dionisio Soldevila (@dSoldevila) July 23, 2013
If that part of the equation is true, it’s interesting that management would decide to supplant Ellis towards the end of the season as he’s really come on strong recently.
For a while now, the Dodgers farm system was barren of position players, but signing Guerrero is a sign management sees a weakness at the second base position.
Update at 10:55 AM PST from Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com:
Agent for #Cuba SS Alexander Guerrero: “Nothing finalized. No agreement in hand with anyone. No truth to any of that.” Three teams in mix.
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) July 23, 2013
7 Comments