The Boston Red Sox have reportedly agreed to a record-breaking deal with Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, sources have told Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston reports that the deal is a seven-year pact that is worth $72.5 million. Edes was told by sources that Castillo is expected to be in a Red Sox' uniform before the end of this season.
The Red Sox' deal with Rusney Castillo breaks a record set by Jose Abreu and the Chicago White Sox this past off-season. Castillo's deal beats Abreu's, which was a six-year, $68 million contract. Castillo's deal sets the record for the largest contract agreed to by an amateur player from Cuba (or any other country).
Castillo, a 5-foot-9 outfielder from Cuba, left his home country about six months ago. A little while after his defection, he established residency in the island nation of Haiti. Last month, Castillo was cleared by the United States Government to sign with any team and was later declared a costless agent by Major League Baseball.
Castillo will look to continue to put up great numbers similar to what he produced in Cuba, as he brings a great bat and speed to the Boston lineup. He hit .315/.383/.512 from 2011 to 2013 and has put on over twenty pounds since his defection. Because of all the muscle weight he has put on, Major League scouts now predict that he can be a 15-homer guy in the Big Leagues.
Rusney Castillo reportedly also drew interest from the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners. There were reports that said the Tigers were the other front-runner for Castillo's services.