The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed their second free agent this offseason who defected from Cuba, but this time it was a pitcher. In Baltimore, the Orioles have avoided arbitration with one of their relievers.
After signing Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million contract, the team made a similar move and inked Cuban pitching prospect Yoan Lopez to a record-setting deal that would pay him an $8.27 million bonus, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. The previous record for such a bonus earned by an international amateur was set by Cuban infielder Roberto Baldoquin, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month.
Last week it was reported that the D-Backs, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers were hoping to sign Lopez, and despite having a $9 million offer from another team, Lopez opted to sign with Arizona because he believed they were "the best fit." The 21-year-old was cleared by the U.S. government last week after he defected from Cuba and established residency in Haiti last year. He held a showcase in the Dominican Republic in November for MLB scouts and has been working out there for the duration of the offseason.
Here's what Ben Badler of Baseball America wrote about the youngster:
"Lopez was one of the more intriguing young arms in Cuba at the time he left the island. In Cuba, Lopez had thrown in the low-90s, but he added size and strength since then to his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and has touched the mid-90s. During his final season pitching in Cuba for Isla De La Juventud in Serie Nacional, Lopez posted a 3.12 ERA with a 28-11 K-BB mark in 49 innings in seven starts. When Lopez pitched in Cuba's 18U national league in 2011, he had a 1.74 ERA in 77 2/3 innings with 88 strikeouts and 45 walks, ranking second in the league in both strikeouts and walks, and third in wild pitches (9)."
As for other moves throughout the offseason, the Baltimore Orioles avoided arbitration with reliever Tommy Hunter and the two sides agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.65 million, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The right-hander began the 2014 season as the Orioles' closer, but lost his job after his ERA reached 6.60 in the middle of May. He was replaced by Zach Birtton, who remained the closer for the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old Hunter began his career as a starter, but was permanently moved into a relief role at the beginning of the 2013 season with the O's. He has compiled a 42-31 record with a 4.32 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in seven MLB seasons (226 games).
