Ben Badler of Baseball America reports on a signing from back in September that hasn’t been announced yet. The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms with Cuban right handed pitcher Cesar Lopez for $600,000 in September. The deal is still pending the result of Lopez getting his visa.
Badler mentions that Lopez is 20 years old, and is a sinker/slider pitcher who can run his fastball up in the low 90s. The bonus is the second biggest bonus given to an international free agent, falling behind Luis Heredia’s $2.6 M bonus in 2010, and ranking ahead of the $400 K that Exicardo Cayonez received in 2008. The bonus is third if you count Yoslan Herrera, who received $750 K in 2006, but had more experience than Heredia and Cayonez, and was a marginal prospect, at the age of 25 when signed.
