Yasiel Puig signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 28, 2012, on a 7-year, $42 million fully guaranteed contract — averaging $6 million per season. The Cuban outfielder was one of the last international prospects to benefit from the pre-cap era, and his deal changed how teams thought about signing foreign talent.
Contract Breakdown
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- Signed: June 28, 2012
- Length: 7 years (2012–2018)
- Total guaranteed value: $42 million
- Average per season: $6 million
Why the Timing Mattered
The deal was finalized just days before July 2, 2012, when MLB’s new international bonus pool rules went into effect. That timing was everything. Puig walked away with more guaranteed money than other high-profile international prospects of that era — including Yoenis Céspedes and Jorge Soler — despite having no prior professional experience in the majors.
The Dodgers were making a big bet on raw offensive potential, and they locked it in before the window closed.
What «Fully Guaranteed» Means
In MLB, a fully guaranteed contract means the player collects every dollar regardless of injuries, performance, or roster moves. From day one, Puig’s $42 million was secure — giving him financial stability no matter how his career unfolded on the field.
Where It Ranks Historically
Puig’s contract doesn’t crack the all-time list of MLB’s largest deals, either by total value or average annual salary. But in its specific context — the final wave of uncapped international signings — it was a landmark agreement. It represented a before-and-after moment in how the league regulated international amateur markets.
How His Career Ended
Puig’s last MLB season was 2019. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators in a case connected to illegal gambling, closing the book on a career that had started with so much promise — and so much money on the table.
