The Cincinnati Reds have signed Cuban Pitcher Rasiel Iglesias to seven-year $27 contract which includes a $5 million signing bonus. He is expected to be the setup man for country man Aroldis Chapman. The news was broken by Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon.
They 24-year-old Iglesias had a 1.68 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 54 innings in Cuba last season. He has started in the past, but the Reds are expected to use him as a full-time reliever at least this season, though he may start in the future. He will start out in the minors but don’t be surprised if he climbs the minor league ladder very quickly, and soon finds himself in the Reds bullpen.
“This was really a team effort in getting this deal done because it was a lengthy process,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. “There were a lot of people involved and a lot of clubs involved.”
A power pitcher, Iglesias has a fastball that hits the mid-90s, and command of four different pitches according to Reds GM Walt Jocketty who consulted with his scouts who saw Iglesias pitch.
“They felt he had four quality pitches,” Jocketty said. “They felt he could be a starter and be a starter very soon. They’ve seen him pitch several times three innings of relief and when we get him to the United States and a little bit stronger, we feel he’ll be a starter in the next year or so, hopefully.”
Since Iglesias is 24 years old and has pro experience in Cuba, he does not count against the international signing money. However his contract is a major league tne and the Reds must make room for him on the 40 man roster as soon as he gets his work visa.
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