Soriano signed to boost Chicago Cubs' bullpen
In an effort to bolster their bullpen in the long run, the Cubs on Tuesday signed veteran reliever Rafael Soriano to a minor-league deal.
The 35-year-old Soriano gets a prorated share of $4.1 million in salary plus possible incentive bonuses.
Speaking to reporters at Detroit's Comerica Park on Tuesday evening, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said there is no timetable for former closer Soriano to make his Cubs debut.
Currently, Hector Rondon is the team's closer, even though Maddon pulled him after Rondon walked the only batter he faced Saturday in Washington. Pedro Strop came in and nailed down a save.
"I also like the guys who are here," Maddon said. "Because we haven't actually seen (Soriano) … he's down in the Dominican (Republic) and has to get his paperwork to get out of there. Once he gets up here, we'll have a better understanding of that. There's no timetable set."
Cubs relievers entered Tuesday's game against the Tigers with a 12-10 record with a 3.68 ERA and a WHIP of 1.30. They were 14-for-22 in save opportunities.
Hard-throwing right-hander Neil Ramirez has been on the disabled list much of the season with a shoulder ailment, and righty Justin Grimm was on the DL from April 10-May 6.
Soriano is 22-28 with 207 saves and a 2.85 ERA in 585 big-league appearances, all but 8 in relief, covering 13 seasons with Seattle (2002-06), Atlanta (2007-09), Tampa Bay (2010), the Yankees (2011-12) and Washington (2013-14). Over the last three seasons, Soriano has combined to record 117 saves with a 9-5 record and 2.84 ERA in 201 relief outings.
He went 4-1 with 32 saves and a 3.19 ERA in 64 appearances for the Nationals last season. He has not pitched this season.
Continuing the draft:
Major League Baseball completed Rounds 3-10 of the amateur draft Tuesday. The draft will conclude Wednesday with Rounds 11-40.
After selecting college outfielders Ian Happ (Cincinnati) and Donnie Dewees (North Florida) on Monday night, the Cubs went with two position players and six pitchers Tuesday.
They took left-handed pitcher Bryan Hudson from Alton, Illinois, in the third round before going with another outfielder, Darryl Wilson, a high schooler out of Canton, Ohio, in Round 4.
After that, the Cubs went with five pitchers in a row before finishing the day with shortstop Vimael Machin out of Virginia Commonwealth.
One of the more interesting pitchers is Ryan Kellogg, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound lefty out of Arizona State.
All-star update:
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was second Tuesday in the latest returns in fan voting for next month's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. Bryant has 1.5 million votes, making him a distant second to the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter, who has 3.14 million.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo is fourth. Paul Goldschmidt of Arizona has 2.01 million votes followed by the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez (1.88 million), the Cardinals' Matt Adams (1.19 million) and Rizzo (1.15 million).
Cubs catcher Miguel Montero is third behind the Cardinals' Yadier Molina and the Giants' Buster Posey. Shortstop Starlin Castro, a three-time all-star, is fourth.