Roger Arrieta
Via Dodgers
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the signing of free agent Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero to a four-year contract.
“We feel Alexander can be an offensive infielder and a solid everyday player,” said Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti. “We’re looking forward to him competing for a middle infield position and becoming a key contributor in 2014.”
“We’ve watched a lot of Alexander at the international level,” said Dodger Vice President, International Scouting Bob Engle. “It’s been a true organizational effort to bring him aboard.”
Guerrero, 26, played seven professional seasons for Las Tunas in the Cuban National Series from 2005-2012, earning three All-Star selections. During his final four seasons playing professionally, Guerrero never batted below .290, including posting a career-high .343 average in 2009-2010, while posting an on-base percentage above .400 each year and hitting 81 home runs in 327 games.
In his final season in Cuba in 2011-12, Guerrero batted .290 with 21 home runs and 51 RBI in 80 games, including a .402 on-base percentage and a .576 slugging percentage. In the field, Guerrero committed just eight errors in 350 chances at shortstop, good for a .977 fielding percentage.
If the five-foot, 10-inch, 197-pound Guerrero reaches the Major Leagues, he will become the 10th native of Cuba in Dodger history, joining teammates Yasiel Puig and Onelki Garcia. In addition to Puig and Garcia, Danys Baez (2006), Camilo Pascual (1970), Zoilo Versalles (1968), Rene Valdes (1957), Chico Fernandez (1956), Sandy Amoros (1952-60) and Dolph Luque (1930-31) were all Cuban-born players to wear Dodger Blue. In 2013, 21 Cuban-born players appeared in a Major League game.
