Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman signs agreement with agent

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman signs with agent

ST. LOUIS — Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who defected this month after arriving with his national team for a tournament in the Netherlands, has signed with an agent.

Chapman will be represented by Athletes Premier International, which is headed by Edwin Leonel Mejia. If Chapman follows the path of previous Cuban baseball players who defected, he would establish residency outside the United States and become a free agent, able to sign with any of the 30 major league teams.

“I am very excited to be starting a new chapter in my life and have Edwin and the rest of the team at Athletes Premier by my side to help me realize my dreams,” Chapman said in a statement Monday.

Chapman pitched twice for Cuba in this year’s World Baseball Classic.