San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – The Arizona Diamondbacks officially
announced on Monday the signing of Cuban power-hitting outfielder Yasmany
Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million contract.
The deal also has an opt-out clause after four years.
“The opportunity to find a power bat like Tomas does not come along very often
and we are extremely excited for him to join the D-backs,” senior vice
president and general manager Dave Stewart said. “Having had the opportunity
to see him play, both in the World Baseball Classic and during recent workouts
in the Dominican Republic, we believe that he can have a real impact on our
lineup in the years to come.”
The 24-year-old Tomas was on Cuba’s World Baseball Classic team in 2013 and
hit .375 with a pair of homers and five RBI in the tournament.
Tomas, who may also see time at third base, played for Havana Industriales
in the Serie Nacional in Cuba for five seasons.
“My dream has always been to play with the best players in the world and
that’s in Major League Baseball,” said Tomas. “I have a lot of respect for the
Diamondbacks and enjoyed meeting Dave Stewart and (senior vice president of
baseball operations) De Jon Watson during my recent workouts. I have great
expectations for my career and cannot wait to join the team and start my big
league career.”
By adding Tomas, the Diamondbacks hope to inject power into a team that
finished with the worst record in the majors at 64-98 in 2014.
