The Cubs signed Cuban right-hander Armando Rivero to a contract with a $3.1MM bonus, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune first reported the deal between the Cubs and the Praver Shapiro Sport Management client.
Rivero, 25, had been living and training in the Dominican Republic, Badler writes. He stands 6’3” and has the potential to pitch as a middle reliever at the MLB level. His best pitch is a fastball that can reach 96 mph, but he doesn’t have an above average secondary pitch, according to Badler. Rivero can throw a solid splitter and sometimes pitches from a low arm slot. His bonus won’t count against the Cubs’ 2012-13 international bonus pool.
