San Juan (AP) – Raise your hands if you thought the San Juan Coqui would sign the biggest free agent contract of the offseason (so far). Anyone? Bueller? Veteran starting pitcher and longtime Kentucky Thoroughbred Rory Soutar signed a high AAV ($25 million), short term contract (3 years) with the heretofore sleepy San Juan Coqui front office. Soutar, a 33 year old who has spent his entire career with Kentucky, led PEBA in wins in a breakout 2038 season, going 21-8 with a 2.74 ERA. Soutar has had three great seasons and one bad one in the past three years, and immediately steps into the opening day starter role for San Juan.

Rory Soutar:

Not Rory Soutar:

Soutar was the latest in a string of free agent signings for the normally conservative Coqui brain trust, following on the heels of LF Pedro Flores (1 year, $19 million) and OF/1B Bruce Schneider (1 year, $1.5 million). Coupled with the emergence of CF Juan Borges and last season’s first round draft choice and incumbent closer Soseki Yokoyama, the Coqui are now a far more interesting team than they were just a season ago.

There is a long way to go, however, as the Coqui lost 100 games for the second season in a row, finishing 39 games out of the division lead and 31 games out of the wild card race. The roster is still short a middle infielder and a centerfielder, but there are two months left in the preseason.