San Francisco Giants sign Cuban outfielder Daniel Carbonell

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The National League West are adding another Cuban import. The San Francisco Giants announced this morning that they had reached an agreement with Cuban outfielder Daniel Carbonell on a four-year, $3.5 million major league deal. His deal can total out to $7 million with added bonuses.

Daniel Carbonell is only 23 years-old and can hit from both sides of the plate. Many consider him a five-tool star (power needs some work). In Cuba’s Serie Nacional, Carbonell hit .287 while averaging over twenty stolen bases over four seasons. He also registered 28 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 70 runs batted in over a span of 190 games.

Carbonell gets a $1 million signing bonus and has a split contract for four years, starting now. His major-league salaries for 2014-17 are $500K, $525K, $550K and $600K. While in the minors he earns $100K/year. 

Carbonell had been seeking a contract that was not any longer than four years, in order for him to be allowed to explore the free-agent market after his age-27 season. He wanted a deal that had similar lengths to those of the likings of Yasiel Puig and Yoenis Cespedes. Carbonell is not viewed to be as big of talent as Puig and Cespedes, as he is viewed as a “project” by the organization.

The Giants were one of three finalists in the Carbonell sweepstakes, where one team was from the AL East and the other from the NL East. According to an industry source, Carbonell took less money to sign with San Francisco in order to have an opportunity to win and a chance to start in 2015. It is not expected for Carbonell to make it to the big-leagues by the end of the season, as he will report to Arizona once he is approved for a work visa.