Royals sign left-handed pitcher Noel Arguelles to a five-year contract

The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed left-handed pitcher Noel Arguelles to a five-year Major League contract through the 2014 season. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Noel Arguelles (pronounced “no-ELL AHR-gwey-us”) is a native of Cuba and will turn 20 on January 12. Prior to defecting from Cuba, the 6-foot-4, 222-pound left-hander pitched for the La Habana Vaqueros in the Cuban National Series. He also competed for the Cuban Junior (18 and under) team at the COPABE “AAA” Pan American Junior Championships in 2007 where he was the winning pitcher in the gold medal game, tossing 8.0 shutout innings and striking out 11.

Arguelles defected from Cuba along with Red Sox shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias while at the World Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada, in July, 2008.

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