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The Houston Astros continue to delve deep into the 2016-2017 international free agency mark and blow well past their allowed pool money. The Astros signed Cuban left-handed pitcher Cionel Perez, reports MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez.
Source: #Astros have agreed to $5.15M deal with Cuban LHP Cionel Perez, #4 on @MLB Top 30 Int'l List. https://t.co/SsRcFkctLG @MLBPipeline
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) September 12, 2016
Cionel, 20, played for Matanza in 2014 with the Cuban League. Lionel was 7-2 with a 2.50 ERA in 20 games (18 starts). He allowed 25 earned runs on 79 hits and 34 walks while striking out 78.
Sanchez is reporting the Astros have signed Perez for a $5.15 million signing bonus — the Astros will have to pay $10.3 million with a 100-percent coverage tax. The Astros’ original bonus pool was $2.197 million which Houston quickly spent and exceeded the pool money.
The Astros will not able abe to sign an international free agent between the age of 16 and 22 for more than $300,000 in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 international signing periods.
Perez defected in 2015 and was recently declared a free agent last week.
Source: Top Cuban pitching prospects Cionel Perez and Norge Ruiz declared free agents and now free to sign @MLBPipeline
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) September 9, 2016