[新聞] Cuban Arguelles agrees to deal with Royals
The small-market Kansas City Royals are betting big on a free agent they’ve
seen pitch only a handful of times.
Noel Arguelles, a 19-year-old left-hander who last year defected from Cuba,
agreed to a five-year, $7 million major league deal with the Royals on
Saturday, according to a club source. Arguelles can earn up to $2 million in
incentives as well. An official from another team interested in Arguelles
said he had been informed a deal was close.
The contract is contingent upon Arguelles passing a physical. He remained in
the Dominican Republic on Saturday and was expected to fly to Kansas City
this week. The Royals still must clear a spot on their 40-man roster to make
room for Arguelles.
Along with shortstop Jose Iglesias, Arguelles left the Cuban junior national
team while in Canada last year. Iglesias signed a four-year, $8.2 million
deal with Boston and impressed scouts in the Arizona Fall League. Meanwhile,
the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Arguelles got into pitching shape, worked out in
front of more than 100 people in the Dominican and had at least a half-dozen
teams interested in signing him.
Kansas City pursued him hardest and continued its commitment to building a
strong player-development program, particularly on the pitching side. The
Royals have a half-dozen young arms who project to be major leaguers,
including top prospect Mike Montgomery and this year’s first-round pick,
Aaron Crow.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore spent the first decade of his career with
Atlanta, where he watched the Braves dominate the NL East with superior
pitching. Kansas City hopes to build around AL Cy Young winner Zack
Greinke(notes) with a farm system that has been infused with talent after
years of skinflint draft budgets.
Arguelles’ talent is unquestioned. While his fastball during workouts wasn’
t at the 94 mph it reached during his national team days, his changeup
remains a potential out pitch and his curveball projects above average as
well. Control is Arguelles’ biggest pitfall.
Scouts who saw his workout believe Arguelles will start the season at Class
A. Because he is on a major-league deal, like Crow, his timetable could be
accelerated once he acclimates to American baseball.
Aroldis Chapman, the 21-year-old left-hander who throws 100 mph and defected
from Cuba in July, remains unsigned. Executives believe he could receive
anywhere from $15 million to $30 million this offseason.
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