Five years ago today, in between Game 5 and Game 6 of the 2013 World Series between the Red Sox & Cardinals, the White Sox held a press conference officially announcing the signing of José Abreu. Coincidentally, it had been 79 days (he’d go on to wear #79 for the White Sox) to the day since the first reports of his defection from Cuba.
The Red Sox, Astros, Marlins, Rangers and Giants were also said to be serious bidders for the Cuban first baseman, but the White Sox were the big winners — awarding a six-year, $68 million deal, at the time the biggest international free agent contract ever handed out.