Jorge Soler Bids Due This Weekend

Buster Olney of ESPN the Magazine says sources are saying bids on Jorge Soler, the free agent Cuban outfielder

whom numerous teams have shown an interest in, will be due this weekend.  Representative of Soler, according to Olney’s sources, have asked teams to get their next round of bids in this weekend after initially setting a June 7th deadline.

Teams can bid as much as they’d like for the international free agent because the bids and the signing will fall under the old Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Under the new agreement, teams will be limited to bids of no more than $2.9 million.  That’s a far cry from what Yoenis Cespedes, another Cuban outfielder, recently got from the Oakland A’s.  Cespedes received a $30 million contract from the A’s.  Soler can receive as much as the team signing him wants to pay as long as he signs his contract before July 2nd.  If he does not, the new CBA rules kick in.

Jorge Soler has been one of the most sought-after international free agents in recent memory.  Yu Darvish and Yoenis Cespedes were on a similar level.  Unlike Darvish, teams will not have to pay posting fees just to negotiate with the Cuban outfielder.  For Soler, teams will simply be able to bid what they wish to pay him for his contract.

According to Olney, many in the league expect Soler to sign for somewhere between $25 and $35 million.  Unlike Cespedes, Soler is expected to start in the minor leagues before his promotion to whatever team signs him.  He is young and may need some seasoning with a level of competition not quite Major League-caliber.

The Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves have shown heavy interest in the young outfielder, but multiple other teams may be involved in the bidding.  Soler, who defected from Cuba, has worked out for multiple teams and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer has said many teams are involved in the bidding.