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Chicago Cubs Sign Albert Almora
After saying that attending the university of Miami was his priority the day after he was drafted with the sixth overall selection in the first round of Major League Baseball’s first year player draft, there was some doubt that outfielder Albert Almora would sign with the Cubs before the deadline for draft picks to be signed by. Then when you add that Scott Boras would be advising Almora in the negotiations, and it seemed that Cubs were destined for drawn negotiation process with Almora.
However, after Friday, it was looking clear that the Cubs were going to sign Almora. Reason being that when the Cubs signed second round draft pick pitcher Duane Underwood on Friday, that left approximately $3.9 million available to the Cubs to sign Almora. The $3.9 million is more thant the slotted $3.25 million that Major League Baseball suggests the sixth overall selection in the draft should receive.
Nonetheless, on Monday, the Cubs and Almora agreed to a contract with the signing bonus of $3.9 million. Almora, along with Underwood, took his physical for the organization on Monday. The Cubs figure to make an official announcement on both Almora and Underwood within the coming days.
Almora has been compared to Ryan Braun, though Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles appears to be the more accurate comparison for Almora. Though, one thing is agreed upon when it comes to Almora. That is that Almora could be rapid-riser through the Cubs’ farm system. Some baseball insiders have suggested that Almora could be ready for the Major Leagues by the end of the 2014 season, though, I would expect Almora to be in the Cubs’ opening day lineup in 2015.
Want something to get you hopes up? Here is what the Cubs 2015 lineup could look like.
- LF Albert Almora
- SS Starlin Castro
- RF Jorge Soler
- 1B Anthony Rizzo
- 3B Josh Vitters
- 2B Junior Lake
- CF Brett Jackson
- C Welington Castillo
The Cubs are always criticized for looking forward towards the future, though when they have a potential lineup like this, can you blame them?