Slugger Jose Abreu has defected from Cuba and should be in line for a big payday from a Major League Baseball team, according to multiple reports.
It is not clear where the 26-year-old first baseman has gone, but he will have to establish residency in another country, be declared a free agent by MLB and get cleared by the U.S. government before he can sign a contract. Based on his stats in Cuba, however, and the success of defectors Yoenis Cespedes and Yasiel Puig, Abreu could get a deal worth more than $50 million.
The right-handed hitter is a former MVP in Cuba. He had one of the best seasons in league history in 2010-11, hitting .453 with 33 home runs and 93 RBIs in only 66 games. He hit .360 with three homers and nine RBIs in the most recent World Baseball Classic.