Cuban outfielder Cespedes to join Oakland A's
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has agreed to a four-year, $36 million deal with the Oakland Athletics, according to a report on Major League Baseball's (MLB) website on Monday.
Cespedes, who defected from Cuba to the Dominican Republic last year, was cleared by U.S. Treasury Department officials to join the professional ranks, the report said.
The deal will not be officially announced by Oakland until the 26-year-old passes a medical, MLB.com said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cespedes spent eight seasons in the Cuban League, hitting a record 33 home runs last season, and was a regular member of the national team.
He had reportedly been approached by a number of other MLB teams, including the Miami Marlins, before opting to join the A's in northern California.
(Reporting by Julian Linden in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)