CINCINNATI -- The Reds have agreed to a $6 million deal with 21-year-old Cuban shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez, MLB.com reports.
Major League Baseball declared Rodriguez a free agent Monday. The club has not confirmed the deal, MLB reporter Jesse Sanchez said.
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Rodriguez is a glove-first prospect with good speed (6.6 seconds in the 60-yard dash) and excellent range. MLB.com describes him as a high-energy player who is making progress at the plate. Rodriguez is expected to be an everyday player when he gets called up to the big leagues, likely after some time in the Minor Leagues, Sanchez reports.
According toMLB.com, Rodriguez is subject to the international signing guidelines because of his age and experience, and his signing would thrust the Reds into the maximum penalty: a 100 percent tax on the overage and the inability to sign a prospect for more than $300,000 during the international signing period that starts on July 2, 2016.
How Rodriguez fits into the club's plans is to be determined.
