LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Braves signed 28-year-old Cuban free-agent reliever Carlos Portuondo to a $990,000 deal and are expected to assign him to Double-A Mississippi to begin the season. He would be a midseason call-up possibility if he performs well.
Portuondo, listed at 6 feet and 227 pounds, was a modest 16-26 with a 5.75 ERA in 125 games (44 starts) for Santiago de Cuba during eight seasons in the Cuban National Series.
Baseball Reference listed his last season as 2013 and his statistics that year were not impressive: 6.39 ERA in 38 innings, with 24 strikeouts and 23 walks. From 2005 through 2013, he totaled 194 strikeouts with 188 walks in 355 1/3 innings.
While the statistics hardly present a compelling case for signing Portuondo, Braves international scouts who’ve seen him liked his arm strength and believe he has a chance to help the Braves.
