Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty says the team does not expect to sign Cuban infielder Alex Guerrero, reports Jon Fayman of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Cuban infielder Alex Guerrero unlikely to sign with Reds
The Reds have been one of five teams rumored to be most interested in signing Guerrero.
Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE
More Reds coverage: Red Reporter
The Reds have been rumored to be among the top five interested teams whenever Guerrero’s name comes up. Jocketty says the team did indeed scout him “extensively” and talked about him often internally. However, he says the team is unlikely to make a big move for the 26-year-old.
In the MLB, Guerrero would likely play second base with an outside possibility of sticking at shortstop, two spots that are already filled in Cincinnati. Brandon Phillips is signed through 2017 while Zack Cozart, a former top prospect, just finished his second major league season, though he has posted a meager .287 OPS.
The Reds have come out of nowhere to sign a Cuban defector before, of course. Current closer Aroldis Chapman was a highly touted pitcher out of Cuba whom Cincinnati signed to a six-year deal worth more than $32 million before the 2010.
Guerrero has not played since the 2011-2012 Cuban season, when he hit for a .310/.400/.599 line. After being left off the national roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, he elected to skip the latest season citing lack of motivation to play.
He defected from Cuba in January and had been rumored to have come to an agreement with the Dodgers on a five year deal worth $32 million, though those talks fell through. He now allegedly is looking for a better overall contract than that. The Dodgers are still interested in signing him and potentially pairing him with fellow Cuban Yasiel Puig in the lineup.
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