Jose Julio

Ruiz

According to one of Ruiz’s agents, Jorge Luis Toca, the Blue Jays, Rangers, Red Sox, Giants, Rays and Rockies have displayed the most interest in his client. Ruiz is sorting through multiple major-league contract offers. “The idea is to find a team where he’ll have the best opportunity to rise the quickest,” Toca told El Nuevo Herald. Ruiz, 25, has a .330 lifetime average in his five-year National Series career, but hasn’t displayed a ton of power. The 6-foot-3, 230 pounder can move better than his size would indicate, and has played some left field.

When the Rays signed the Cuban import in June, they had an agreement to where they could either sign him to a four-year, $4 million contract this month or give him his release. They’ve decided to do the latter. Ruiz dominated in the Dominican Summer League for the Rays but hit a pedestrian .272/.358/.348 with one homer over 92 at-bats at Double-A. Turning 26 in March, Ruiz should be able to hook on somewhere, but he’ll need to kick his development into high gear.

Ruiz, a Cuban defector, received an unusual contract from the Rays last summer that gave the team the option of signing him to a four-year, $4 million deal in November or releasing him. The Rays didn’t think he was worth that kind of money after he hit just .272/.358/.348 in 92 Double-A at-bats last season, but maybe he’ll take a step forward in his second year in the U.S. He turns 26 in March, so if he doesn’t break through this year, it should be fine to write him off.

The Rays signed a lesser Cuban first baseman, Leslie Anderson, back in March. Ruiz, 25, was something of a hot name back in February, but while he was offered major league deals, he didn’t receive the multi-million dollar proposals he was expecting. According to Jorge Ebro of the El Nuevo Herald, his deal with the Rays gives the team the option of signing him to a four-year, $4 million contract on Nov. 15. If it’s not exercised, he’ll become a free agent again.