Cuban infielder Aníbal Sierra and Houston Astros have agreed to a minor-league contract worth $3.5 million, sources close to the negotiations told ESPN's Enrique Rojas on Thursday.
The contract will be made official after July 2, so the Astros will be able to include the deal in their budget for next year. The total cost to the Astros will be around $7 million, including fees associated with international signing limits, sources said.
Sierra, 22, has less than five years of experience playing in the Cuban League.
A shortstop and second baseman, Sierra played parts of three seasons with Santiago in the Cuban National Series, hitting a combined .238 in 91 games before leaving the country for the Dominican Republic eight months ago.
Sierra was declared an unrestricted free agent by Major League Baseball in January.