Reds sign Cuban pitcher Raicel Iglesias to seven-year deal

The Cincinnati Reds signed Cuban right-handed pitcher Raicel Iglesias to a seven-year contract, the Reds announced on Friday. 

The deal is for $30 million and is a major league contract, reports MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. The Reds tweeted that Iglesias, 24, will join the organization "once visa issues are resolved."

A week ago, it was reported that Iglesias and the Reds were close to making a deal, but the negotiations didn't materialize until now. 

Iglesias defected from Cuba in November 2013 and was one of four Cuban players that MLB granted an exception to sign during the league's closed period, before the rules for Cuban players change on July 2. The new rules will require players to be 23 and have played five seasons, while Iglesias has only played three. 

Highlights of Iglesias pitching, courtesy of Baseball America:

-- Molly Geary