The Los Angeles Dodgers inked Cuban infielder Hector Olivera to a six-year, $62.5 million deal yesterday, but that doesn't mean concerns about his throwing elbow have been allayed. During his physical, it was revealed that the 29-year-old does indeed have a slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
Baseball fans have become accustomed to players' UCLs because that is the injury that typically results in season-ending Tommy John surgery. In Olivera's case, the UCL does not require immediate attention. It did, however, give Los Angeles a bit of leverage at the negotiating table and grant them the option of exercising an option for a seventh season at $1 million if he requires Tommy John surgery at any point.
Olivera has been a pro in Cuba for 10 seasons, and comes hyped as an MLB-ready bat. He's expected to play third base in the U.S., and should push veteran Juan Uribe for playing time early on. His best season in Cuba was 2011, when he slashed .341/.462/.626 and belted 17 home runs, a career-high, in only 60 games.
He was a career .323 hitter in Cuba averaging close to 10 home runs and 43 RBI in seasons lasting half as long as an MLB campaign. He also has proven adept at getting on base, putting up a .407 OBP in Cuba.
Uribe was very productive for the Dodgers in 2014, hitting .311 with nine home runs in 103 games. Unfortunately Uribe has had great difficulty staying on the field since 2011. Uribe hasn't appeared in more than 132 games in four seasons, and will be a free agent after this season.
Second baseman Howie Kendrick is also on a one-year deal with the Dodgers, so Olivera can man second base for them long-term as well, as he did primarily play second in Cuba.
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