Report: Cubs get Cuban outfield prospect Jorge Soler
STAFF REPORT June 11, 2012 1:38PM
Jorge Soler
Updated: June 11, 2012 2:39PM
The Cubs have won a bidding war for Cuban defector Jorge Soler, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Several teams, including the Yankees, were vying for the slugging outfield prospect.
Team insiders were hopeful, if not optimistic, of landing the power-hitting corner outfielder, even as the New York Yankees were said to be aggressively involved.
The deal is for $30 million over nine years, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Talent evaluators consider Soler, 20, the equivalent of a top-10 draft pick. During the winter, he often was referred to as a younger version of center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, who signed with the Oakland Athletics.
Soler became eligible to sign as a free agent this month, a significant development considering international signing restrictions go into effect July 2.
After that, teams are limited to $2.9 million annually for all international signings.
Cespedes got $36 million over six years from the A’s. While Soler is expected to need at least two or three years in the minors, most predictions for his contract started at more than $20 million.
