MLB Briefs ASTROS DISH $2M BONUS

houston» A 20-year-old Cuban pitcher has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Houston Astros that includes a $2 million signing bonus.

The agreement involving left-hander Cionel Perez is part of the last international signing period without a cap on bonuses. Starting July 2, teams will not be able to exceed set limits each year that start at $4.75 million for bonuses of more than $10,000 for amateurs residing outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

Cuban infielder Yuli Gurriel agreed to a $47.5 million, five-year contract with the Astros in July and made his major-league debut the following month. washington» Until a couple of days before he was sent to the Washington Nationals, outfielder Adam Eaton had no inkling it would happen.

“I didn’t expect to be traded,” Eaton said in his first meeting with reporters since the Nationals shipped three young pitchers to the White Sox for him last week. “I don’t think anybody really expects to be traded.”

But once Eaton heard the White Sox had shipped left-hander Chris Sale to the Red Sox, signaling Chicago’s full-on rebuilding effort, he said, “It was kind of like: ‘Oh, boy, here we go.’ It was kind of a downhill slope.”

Eaton and Washington’s other significant offseason addition, catcher Derek Norris, were among the players attending the Nationals’ annual fan festival. Bryce Harper was not.

Washington gave Chicago its two best pitching prospects — Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, who both spent time in the majors this year — along with 2016 first-round draft pick Dane Dunning. minneapolis» The Twins said minor-league pitcher Yorman Landa died in Venezuela. He was 22.

The club said the Twins are “deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss.” The team did not say how he died.

Landa pitched in the 2016 season with the Fort Meyers Miracle, going 2-2 with seven saves and a 3.24 ERA in 41M innings pitched. His career minorleague ERA was 2.66.

Landa had been on the Twins’ 40-man roster but was dropped after the season. The organization signed him to a minorleague contract last week.

Landa was signed by the Twins in 2010 as a 16year-old.