Cuban RHP Yoan Lopez gets PAID by Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks set a new record for international free agent signings when they agreed to terms with Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez.

Yoan Lopez probably didn’t get checks like this in Havana.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with the Cuban right-hander for an international free agent record signing bonus of $8.27 million, according to MLB.com.

The old record didn’t last long—the Los Angeles Angels paid an $8 million bonus to Cuban infielder Roberto Baldoquin last week.

The 21-year-old reportedly turned down a $9 million offer from another organization because he liked the fit in Arizona.

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He was said to be impressed with chief baseball officer (God, I want that title) Tony La Russa and general manager Dave Stewart.

Lopez is expected to be invited to spring training.

He throws a cutter, changeup, curve and slider and brings the hard cheese at 93 to 95 mph.

The New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants were all reported to be interested in signing Lopez.

Because of his age—younger than 23—and that he did not play professionally in Cuba for at least five seasons, Lopez fell under the guidelines of the MLB’s international signing policy.

With Arizona’s activity on the international market since July 2, when this year’s signing period began, it is likely the Lopez deal will push them above the maximum penalty threshold for the 2014-15 signing period.

That will handcuff the Diamondbacks a bit over the next two signing periods, as they will be subject to a 100 percent tax on any amount spent over their international signing pool allocation and they will be prohibited from signing an international free agent for more than $300,000 through the signing period that ends in June 2017.

Lopez defected to Haiti and established residency there and was declared a free agent by MLB late last year.

Lopez played three seasons with Isla De La Juventud in Serie Nacional, Cuba’s top professional league, with a 3.12 ERA in 49 innings over seven starts last season before he defected (bringing a whole new meaning to the acronym DL).

At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Lopez has the classic big frame scouts love to see in right-handed pitchers, a sign there is potential for growth/more velocity.

The accounting of his repertoire doesn’t seem to match up to recording just 28 strikeouts in 49 innings in Cuba, but that was coupled with only 11 walks, a solid, if unspectacular, ratio.

The candidates for rotation spots heading into spring training are Josh Collmenter, Rubby De Le Rosa, Jeremy Hellickson, Allen Webster, Vidal Nuno, Trevor Cahill, Chase Anderson and Daniel Hudson, with lefty Patrick Corbin and right-hander Bronson Arroyo each expected to be out until mid-season after Tommy John surgery.

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