The White Sox are set to sign Cuban slugger Jose Abreu to a six-year, $68 million contract, pending a physical, according to MLB.com.
The mega-deal for the 26-year-old first baseman follows the success of Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes (four years, $36 million) and Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig (seven years, $42 million) — also Cuban defectors.
The Astros, Rangers and Red Sox were also reported to be in the running for Abreu, who went 9-for-25 with three home runs and nine RBIs in six games for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic this spring. The contract — with an average annual value of $11.33 million — would be the largest first-time deal given to an international player.