Astros Will Break International Bonus Pool, Agree To Sign Cuban SS Anibal Sierra

Add the Astros into the mix of teams planning to go beyond their international bonus pools this year. The team has an agreement in place with 22-year-old Cuban shortstop Anibal Sierra, a free agent who is subject to the bonus pools, to sign for $3.5 million on July 2 when the 2016-17 signing period begins. With a 100 percent overage tax for exceeding their pool, the total cost to the Astros to sign Sierra will essentially be $7 million. ESPN’s Enrique Rojas first reported the agreement.

It’s surprising that the Astros would be willing to break their bonus pool to sign Sierra, who was not a standout player in Cuba. Sierra didn’t play much in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, but from watching him play there during his final season (2014-15), he didn’t have any tools that stood out, with below-average speed and occasional gap power at best. He did use the opposite field, but he had trouble making contact against fastballs in the strike zone and a tendency to chase sliders off the plate.

Undoubtedly, the Astros saw something different in Sierra. Those who have seen Sierra since he left the country say his tools have ticked up, including his speed and power. Scouts who liked Sierra felt he was a true shortstop with soft hands and a good internal clock with a solid arm to stick at the position, with a line-drive, contact-oriented approach from the right side of the plate and some surprising power given his numbers in Cuba.

Part of the risk with Sierra is in his limited performance track record in Cuba. In Cuba’s national 18U league in 2012, Sierra was a solid hitter with minimal power, ranking 10th in the league in batting average. He hit .327/.421/.398 in 136 plate appearances with 16 walks, 14 strikeouts and five steals in nine attempts as the shortstop for Santiago De Cuba.

Sierra moved on to Serie Nacional, playing sparingly his first two seasons in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Sierra did play in Cuba’s Sub-23 league for 23-and-under players in 2014, when he batted .316/.366/.368 in 148 plate appearances with 11 walks, 20 strikeouts and two stolen bases in six attempts.

After Hector Olivera left Cuba, Sierra opened the 2014-15 Serie Nacional season as Santiago De Cuba’s starting second baseman, but he quickly lost that role to Jose Silveira one week into the season. From that point on, Sierra mostly came off the bench when he did play, spending the majority of his time at second base with time at shortstop as well. He struggled at the plate, batting just .193/.233/.281 in 64 plate appearances with two walks and 16 strikeouts.

It’s unknown where Sierra would start his career once his deal becomes official this summer, though one of the Astros’ Class A affiliates would seem likely. The Astros signed two other Cuban players last year, getting 24-year-old outfielder Alejandro Garcia for $750,000 when the current 2015-16 signing period opened on July 2. The month before, during the 2014-15 signing period, the Astros signed Cuban righthander Andres Quiala for $794,000.

The Braves, Cardinals, Nationals, Padres and Reds are also expected to exceed their international bonus pools when the 2016-17 signing period opens on July 2.