Hector Olivera, the 29-year-old Cuban infielder who is expected to break the bank when he signs with a Major League Baseball team, is reportedly starting to draw serious interest around the league.
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Padres Favorites for Olivera, Marlins Also Interested
Tuesday, March 10
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported the Padres are the favorites to sign Olivera, adding details as to what they can offer the Cuban star:
The San Diego Padres are positioning themselves as a favorite to land Cuban infielder Hector Olivera, showing a willingness to spend significant money after strong-but-failed attempts to sign Cubans Yasmany Tomas and Yoan Moncada earlier this offseason, sources told Yahoo Sports.
The market for Olivera heated up Tuesday, with the Padres considering an offer upwards of $50 million, according to sources.
Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported that the Marlins are also interested in Olivera. Spencer offered the following details:
According to sources, the Marlins have had discussions with Olivera's representatives. Whether the Marlins can afford Olivera given reports that the price tag could be anywhere from $50-70 million is unclear. While many believe Olivera is major-league ready, the Marlins are set at second base with Dee Gordon and third with Martin Prado. So finding room on the infield for the Cuban star is another question.
But sources said the idea of playing and living in Miami is appealing to Olivera, and the Marlins have sent scouts to look at him numerous times.
Fox Sports: Braves Make Olivera Offer
Tuesday, March 10
According to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the Atlanta Braves have made a contract offer to Olivera:
The Braves are in an interesting spot right now. They have undergone drastic change this offseason, trading Jason Heyward and Justin Upton, while acquiring long-term assets. This signals a franchise rebuild.
It's not clear what Olivera's market will turn into or what offers he's getting, but Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported on March 7 that the infielder's agents are expecting a huge contract:
Ben Badler of BaseballAmerica.com offered a list of suitors for Olivera, which includes the Braves, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. If the bidding gets as high as his agents are expecting, it will be interesting to see how many teams stay in the mix.
As of right now, the Braves are the first team with an offer reported to be on the table and may have the inside track to sign Olivera.
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