The New York Yankees are among the teams that are involved in what appears to be furious bidding for 19-year-old Cuban outfielder prospect Jorge Soler. Buster Olney reported that the Yankees “have serious interest” in Soler. (via MLBTradeRumors.com)
Earlier Tuesday the Chicago Tribune reported that Soler was likely to join the Chicago Cubs. That has not yet happened, however, and it appears the Yankees and other teams are still in the mix.
Baseball Prospect Nation offers a full scouting report on Soler. Here are some snippets from the report:
“Truly classic right field profile. Offers plus-plus raw power that has a chance to translate if the hit tool comes together. … Raw ceiling could be a .275-.280 hitter with 30 home runs in the heart of the lineup, all with very good outfield defense. … High doesn’t begin to describe Soler’s risk level. Handing a teenager more than $25 million and trying to develop him in a new country and a new baseball environment is extremely risky, but the payoff could be huge.”
Sounds like most experts believe Soler will sign with the Cubs.