The Padres have signed righty Cesar Vargas to a major league deal, the club announced. San Diego also added just-acquired outfielder Manuel Margot and infielder Jose Rondon to its 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft.
Vargas is a 23-year-old who spent the last seven seasons in the Yankees organization before reaching minor league free agency. He is the second former New York reliever to sign a major league deal as a minor league free agent in recent days, joining new Cubs pitcher Andury Acevedo.
It’s not clear exactly what San Diego’s plans are for its new right-hander, though the team will have several option seasons to work with. Vargas reached the Triple-A level late last season, but spent the bulk of his time at Double-A. In 67 2/3 innings there — his first stint at the second-to-last stop in the minors — Vargas worked to a 2.79 ERA with 8.6 K/0 against 2.9 BB/9.
Yankees raised & paid for 7 years of his development – go shine with the Pads, how hard does he throw?