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It remains to be seen if Serguey Linares, a Cuban defector signed by the Pirates yesterday to a minor-league contract, can pitch in Pittsburgh someday.

What is not suspenseful in the slightest is whether or not he has the arm to do so.

As general manager Dave Littlefield put it, "He's a big guy who throws very hard and is very aggressive."

Linares, 23, is 6 feet 4, 225 pounds, and has a fastball that has been clocked at 97-98 mph, according to multiple reports. That is harder than any pitcher throws at any level in the Pirates' organization.

But that is only part of Linares' story, perhaps a small part.

For one, he did not pitch nearly as well in his nation's top professional league as did Yoslan Herrera, a much more polished Cuban defector signed by the Pirates in December. Linares was 7-10 with a 5.59 ERA in 37 career games, including 26 starts, and had a gaudy ratio of 86 walks to 111 strikeouts in 162 2/3 innings.

For another, Linares has not performed competitively since 2005, the result of the long, arduous process to escape Cuba and establish the non-Cuban residency necessary to sign a Major League Baseball contract.

Littlefield said no decision has been made about where Linares will start in their system, but it probably will not be higher than Class AA Altoona.

"His command needs to improve, and there's always a period of assimilation for the Cuban players from a personal standpoint," Littlefield said. "But it's certainly a good arm to add to the system."

Linares and Herrera were part of a group of five Cuban defectors being shopped to major-league teams in the past year by Florida-based agent Jaime Torres. The Pirates initially took notice of Linares while scouting Herrera last summer in the Dominican Republic.

Linares' contract includes an invitation to the major-league camp in spring training.

Two other personnel moves yesterday raised the total of players invited to 69: Reliever Franquelis Osoria, removed from the 40-man roster last week, was invited after he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Indianapolis. And catcher Steve Lerud, the Pirates' fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft, will participate for a second consecutive year.

NOTES -- Jose Castillo, playing right field for Venezuela in the Carribbean World Series, doubled in four at-bats and made two throwing errors in a 7-1 loss to the Dominican Republic last night in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Through four games, Castillo is batting .381 with six doubles. ... Castillo has played an unusually high amount of winter ball, with 49 games in Venezuela before this tournament. Littlefield said he had no concerns about that. "Frankly, I think it's a good thing because he keeps himself in good shape and because playing is the best way to get better," he said. ... Castillo's arbitration case is the only one left on the Pirates' docket, with a hearing scheduled for Feb. 14. Castillo has filed for a salary of $2.2 million, the team $1.8 million. "We're always confident deals will get done," Littlefield said.