The Chicago White Sox have reportedly signed international free agent 3B Luis Castillo for a $450,000 signing bonus, according to Baseball America. Castillo rates as a sizeable infielder with power potential and will join a White Sox farm system that ranks last among MLB franchises.
Chicago also signed 16-year-old SS Johan Cruz out of the Dominican Republic in early July. The Cruz and Castillo signings mark a current rush among MLB teams to acquire as much young international talent as possible ahead of the league's implementation of the newest collective bargaining agreement, which heavily curtails spending on international free agents.
The Sox started the season with 3B Brent Morel covering the third bag, but injuries and ineffectiveness led to the team trading for 3B/1B Kevin Youkilis.
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