The Rangers are close to signing Cuban defector Leonys Martin to a multi-year contract, according to the Dallas Morning News. Martin, 23, is known for his speed and defense but not as much his bat, which they hope can improve under the supervision of major league coaching and playing regularly with professional players.
Martin is reportedly set to land a 15 million dollar signing bonus, with a deal believed to be in the range of 12-14 million over four-plus years. It is a very big investment for the Rangers who have made serious investments in the international amateur pool.
After making a name for himself on the Cuban National Team last summer, he is generating buzz comparable to when Junichi Tazawa came over from Japan. It will only be a matter of time till we see him, and he will most likely join Single-A before moving up the system.