Cubs Sign Armando Rivero

[ABE32]

Cubs have signed Armando Rivero a flame thrower from Cuba

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2...rmando-rivero/


Scouting Report:
Simply put, Rivero is a power right handed arm that has the pieces to be a quick mover to the parent club. He is a long and loose arm guy that looks the part from the eyeball test right away, and still has a bit of projection He has a plusfastball with action and sits in the mid to upper 90s, topping out at 98 mph.

His two seam fastball has some late drop action that will make it an effective pitch down the road, and could become his bread and butter. He has been used his entire career with Cuban baseball as a closer and this is his future role with any organization that signs him.

He shows some mechanical traits that make it necessary to limit the amount of pitches he throws. His arm slot and angle show promise and he can spin a nasty slider down the line, which gives him a powerful arsenal at his disposal. Mechanically, sticking exclusively in a relief role should not pose a concern down the line as he matures.

[Randall Simon]

hopefully he can throw baseballs too!

[ABE32]

hopefully he can throw baseballs too!

Yeah agreed LOL...this dude seems like the real deal from all reports.

[hrubes20]

I remember being intrigued by this guy back before Soler even signed. Glad he was brought aboard as you can't have too many live arms. Give him some time with Johnson to see if he can improve on the secondaries.

[Yagyu+]

Cubs have been on Rivero since at least 2011. He won't count against the IFA cap due to his age.

[ABE32]

Cubs have been on Rivero since at least 2011. He won't count against the IFA cap due to his age.

Supposed to be a really fast riser...this bullpen they are putting together is going to be filthy.

[Gobias]

Not a carbon copy, but this guy has a lot of Rafael Dolis in him. Not to discourage any excitement for him, but in terms of body and arsenal he's the best comparison that I can put on him. Haven't seen him live myself, but know others who have and they seem to like him as a potential solid 7th inning man. See the Cubs starting him in Daytona and going from their, with September as a possibility.

Just to elaborate on the "Dolis" comparison, floor is much higher due to him not being nearly as raw as Rafael was. Guy is actually pretty established as you can all assume by the "fast riser" talk.

[Yagyu+]

Supposed to be a really fast riser...this bullpen they are putting together is going to be filthy.

He's far from unique, but if he does move quickly, it'll be nice to have him and someone like Zych chasing each other's heels.

[ABE32]

He's far from unique, but if he does move quickly, it'll be nice to have him and someone like Zych chasing each other's heels.

Exactly...as for what Gobias said above I still like Dolis if he gets his control in order...lots of options in the bullpen. McNutt has been Impressive.

[JBears79]

Not a carbon copy, but this guy has a lot of Rafael Dolis in him. Not to discourage any excitement for him, but in terms of body and arsenal he's the best comparison that I can put on him. Haven't seen him live myself, but know others who have and they seem to like him as a potential solid 7th inning man. See the Cubs starting him in Daytona and going from their, with September as a possibility.

Just to elaborate on the "Dolis" comparison, floor is much higher due to him not being nearly as raw as Rafael was. Guy is actually pretty established as you can all assume by the "fast riser" talk.

Any idea on how his command is? Sounds like he has plus stuff for a reliever.

[KyleJRM]

Using the Concepcion adjustment scale, I'm going to assume he actually throws 90-92.

[ABE32]

Using the Concepcion adjustment scale, I'm going to assume he actually throws 90-92.

More like sits at 93-95 can reach 98...pure power pitcher Concepcion was never known as a power pitcher.

[KyleJRM]

The reports say 93-95, touches 98, but they also said Concepcion worked at 90 and touched 93.

So I'm adjusting down my expectations accordingly.

[hrubes20]

The reports say 93-95, touches 98, but they also said Concepcion worked at 90 and touched 93.

So I'm adjusting down my expectations accordingly.

I don't believe anyone other than a Cubs "insider" said Concepcion threw that hard. The boards just ran with that. Badler and the other big boys were pretty consistent that he was 87-89.

But you are right. I've seen many more "sits 91-93, touching 96" reports than "93-95, touching 98". Still a good arm, though.

[KyleJRM]

I don't believe anyone other than a Cubs "insider" said Concepcion threw that hard. The boards just ran with that. Badler and the other big boys were pretty consistent that he was 87-89.

But you are right. I've seen many more "sits 91-93, touching 96" reports than "93-95, touching 98". Still a good arm, though.

It is interesting how we can have a dozen reports at one velocity, and one at a slightly higher velocity, and that's the one that will get repeated forever.