The Pirates today picked up a pair of foreign-born right-handed pitchers -- Cuban defector Yoslan Herrera and Japanese veteran Masumi Kuwata.
Herrera, 25, agreed to a three-year major league contract worth nearly $2 million.
The team will officially announce the deal later today.
Herrera went 18-7 with a 3.72 ERA in Cuba before defecting in 2004. He will be invited to spring training and could compete for the fifth spot in the Pirates' rotation.
To make room for Herrera, the Pirates will have to drop a player from their 40-man roster.
The Pirates have not yet gone public with their offer to Kuwata, who ranks among the top 20 strikeout pitchers in the history of Japanese pro baseball.
However, Kuwata earlier today told reporters in Japan he will sign with the Pirates.
Kuwata will receive a minor-league contract and likely will be invited to spring training. He chose the Pirates over similar deals from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. According to the Kyodo News, Kuwata said during a press conference in Tokyo that "the Pirates suit me most among the teams that have given me offers."
Kuwata spent the past 21 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He will turn 39 on April 1, the day before the Pirates' season-opener against Houston.
---
桑田とはマイナーリーグ契約。桑田は日本野球史上、奪三振がトップ20に入ると報道している。