The Rays continued their busy transaction day by signing Cuban defector Sergio Espinosa, a left-handed pitcher who worked as a late-game reliever in Cuba.
Espinosa, 23, will likely stay in relief in the US, and report to an A-ball affiliate. He throws a low 90’s fastball and sharp sweeping curveball, and thrives on pitching to contact. He’s not too much of a strikeout pitcher (K rate around 7 K/9 IP in Cuban ball), so expectations should be fairly tempered for Espinosa, who will simply provide some organization relief depth in the short term.