RealGM

The market continues to take shape for outfielder Jorge Soler, considered by many to be the next big Cuban prospect on the scene after Yoenis Cespedes, who signed with the Oakland A's earlier this week.

On Wednesday morning, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos and members of his front office watched the 19-year-old Soler -- along with Cuban pitcher Armando Rivero, outfielder Henry Urrutia and left-handed pitcher Omar Luis -- work out at the club's complex in Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic, according to an industry source. The Orioles are scheduled to visit Soler in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, the source added.

The Yankees, White Sox, Phillies and Cubs have also expressed interest Soler, and a source said that the reports the Cubs have an agreement in place for $28 million for the outfielder are false.

It's unclear when Soler will make his way to the United States. He has applied for residency in the Dominican Republic -- the first step to becoming eligible for free agency -- but his status remains uncertain. Once the outfielder gains residency, Major League Baseball can declare him a free agent, but he still must be legally cleared by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control before he can sign a contract.

BigLeagueChew wrote:Sign him up, 6 years 40 million and no trade clause.

BobbyBoy wrote:

BigLeagueChew wrote:Sign him up, 6 years 40 million and no trade clause.

Uh, not at that price. Maybe a 3 year deal at 6-7 mill (not a year)

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:

BobbyBoy wrote:

BigLeagueChew wrote:Sign him up, 6 years 40 million and no trade clause.

Uh, not at that price. Maybe a 3 year deal at 6-7 mill (not a year)

He'll get a contract similar to Cespedes. He's not as major-league ready but is a better prospect. He's probably a better prospect than anyone on the Jays outside of D'Arnaud.

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:

BobbyBoy wrote:

BigLeagueChew wrote:Sign him up, 6 years 40 million and no trade clause.

Uh, not at that price. Maybe a 3 year deal at 6-7 mill (not a year)

He'll get a contract similar to Cespedes. He's not as major-league ready but is a better prospect. He's probably a better prospect than anyone on the Jays outside of D'Arnaud.

BobbyBoy wrote:I really want this guy in our farm system. Gives us some more flexibility to make a trade.

Wo1verine wrote:Soler will probably get 25-30MM if i had to guess.

BobbyBoy wrote:

Wo1verine wrote:Soler will probably get 25-30MM if i had to guess.

I would never give that to him. He's good or at least it seems. The only way he gets a 25-30 mill contract is if he signs like 7-8 years.

WpgPage wrote:He's only 19 so teams will have the full 6 years of team control on him. My guess is that he goes for 24-26 million and the Jays will definitively be interested huge upside will time well with Marisnick and hes one of the last INTL FA's that AA can make a play for before the Cap starts.

The Yankees and Phillies are in hardest on Soler now, Yahoo's Jeff Passan tweets.

hyper316 wrote:just due diligence, i dont expect soler to be signed since he's an OF. if he was a 2B/SS, then it'll be a lot more interesting

hyper316 wrote:just due diligence, i dont expect soler to be signed since he's an OF. if he was a 2B/SS, then it'll be a lot more interesting