With Yoenis Cespedes being strongly considered by almost every team in the league -- most notably the Miami Marlins, whom he visited last week -- the Cubs have seemingly turned their attention to 19-year-old Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler:
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Kevin GoldsteinRumors out of the DR today that the Cubs are making a very very big play for Jorge Soler.
Feb 12 via Twitter for iPadFavoriteRetweetReply
This is not all that surprising. Given his age, he is seven years younger than Cespedes and will come at a much cheaper price. He fits in much better with Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer's future plans, as he is likely still a couple years away from having an impact in the majors.
Goldstein, of Baseball Prospectus, appeared on MLB Network Radio after the Cubs signed 18-year-old pitcher Gerardo Concepcion and discussed Soler in a little bit more detail.
"He has some paperwork issues just like Cespedes does," Goldstein said. "He profiles as a very classic right-field profile on a scouting level. He's a big, athletic kid. He ran well for scouts. He ran a 6.7 60 for them the other week, which is above average. At his age and his size, that's not going to last. He just doesn't look like a guy that's going to stay fast.
"What he's going to be is a right fielder who's gonna hit for power. He's gonna throw well, hit home runs. That's going to be his job. Big, big kid. Broad shoulders, tons of raw power. He's a very exciting player...I think it's important -- and same with Concepcion -- to talk about how they are different from Cespedes.
"I think for Soler, his most logical assignment, based on his youth experience and talent, would be Low-A ball...Soler and Concepcion are not guys who are going to help you this year. These are not guys who are going to help you in 2013 and probably not 2014. These are long-term players. These are guys who you hope can turn into impact players, but they're not even close to that yet."
MLB
This would be a really big signing for the Cubs and has the potential to be a great move for the future. Stay tuned, as if Goldstein's sources are right, more will come on this story shortly.