Chicago Cubs sign prospect Eddy Julio Martinez

After a charade lasting the span of a couple months, Cuban prospect Eddy Julio Martinez has signed with the Chicago Cubs for $3 million, according to Baseball America’s Matt Eddy.

The 20-year old outfielder had previously agreed to sign with the San Francisco Giants, yet after the deal fell through due to financial reasons, the Cubs made their move. The Giants’ had set their highest offer at $2.5 million for a minor league deal, and Martinez would agree with the Cubs’ $3 million proposal.

Martinez is rated as the fourth best international prospect on MLB.com’s list, highlighted by a quick power swing, one that is rather uncharacteristic for his lighter 6 foot 2, 195 pound frame. Martinez is yet another young player the Cubs have gone after and successfully signed, and the second big Cuban name, following 2012’s blockbuster signing of Jorge Soler, a deal worth $30 million over nine years.

The Cubs have mostly stocked up on infield talent both internationally and through the draft, but add another valuable future piece to an outstanding outfield core, one that also has Albert Almora and Billy McKinney on the way.

This also marks the second time in a year that the Giants have fallen short in a bidding war to the Cubs, as the Giants also missed out on starting pitcher Jon Lester in December 2014, as the Cubs would sign the southpaw to a franchise-record six-year, $155 million deal.

The addition of Eddy Julio Martinez is further evidence of the model of development the Cubs’ front office has taken over the past few years, as Chicago has rebuilt their franchise from the bottom up, signing low-risk, high-reward veterans along the way to supplement the team.

At 20 years old, Martinez will more than likely begin his professional stateside baseball career in the minor leagues, and work his way up the Cubs’ minor league system. Martinez can be expected to make his MLB debut, barring injury, within the next two seasons.