Phillies Sign Cuban Defect Miguel A. Gonzalez

Perhaps the Phillies will be buyers after all.

According to reports, the Phillies have signed RHP Cuban defect Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez to  $48 million contract.

The signing was first reported by Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports.

Reports have the 26-year old Cuban agreeing to a six-year deal that could be worth up to $59 million, making it the richest contract ever for an international player.

Gonzalez reportedly wowed scouts from dozens of major league clubs in Tijuana, Mexico after defecting from Cuba in February.

Scouts and rival GMs have told reporters that Gonzalez projects as a mid-level starter with a fastball topping out at 96 mph. Gonzalez also possesses a split fingered fastball, cut fastball and a slow curve ball.

According to the Yahoo! report, the Phillies "are believed to have outbid the Red Sox in negotiations for the 6 foot 2, 185-pound Gonzalez.

More recently, international players have translated to the MLB game, with Yu Darvish and Yasiel Puig off to fast starts with their respective teams.

Gonzalez is likely to make multiple starts in the minor leagues before being summoned to the Phillies rotation around mid-late August.

Read the full Yahoo! Sports Report here.

Gonzalez video can also be accessed here.