Phillies serious about Soler interest
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Phillies serious about Soler interest
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies are definitely a serious player in the Jorge Soler sweepstakes.
"Our scouts have seen him and we like him," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday. "It may come down to where he wants to play and, of course, the money."
Exactly what it's going to take to sign the 19-year-old Cuban defector remains a mystery that cannot be solved until he actually is declared a free agent. All kinds of rumors have circulated about Soler's price tag. Earlier this week, an incorrect report surfaced that the Chicago Cubs were on the verge of signing Soler to a $27.5 million deal.
A baseball source said there is no way to know for sure when Soler will even become a free agent. There have been reports that the New York Yankees are also seriously pursuing Soler. The baseball source said the Phillies have remained in close contact with Soler and his agents since the young outfielder defected.
The source said he believes whenever Soler is declared a free agent that every team, including the Phillies, will be aware of what offer is being made by each team.
The Phillies' interest in Soler makes sense because the farm system's biggest weakness is in quality position players. The system has been depleted in recent years because of trades that have sent some of the team's best minor-league prospects elsewhere for players like Joe Blanton, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence.
At 19, Soler will likely spend considerable time in the minor leagues regardless of what team signs him.
I wish this site had more pop-up ads and automatic ad videos.— dvldvl2001
Comment removed.- He's an outfielder, though the rumor is the Phillies would try and groom him at 1B if possible. — jactaid
- "The baseball source said the Phillies have remained in close contact with Soler and his agents since the young outfielder defected."
— Robert Abooey - easglessuperfan, Dominican are the ones altering their certificates, FYI. So when you have probe of a Cuban player guilty of doing taht, please, let us know. BTW, those players play in a very organized baseball league and some, as Cespedes and Soler, have played for the Cuban National Team. It doesn't accomplish anything to fake their identities. They won't play better by saying they are 3 or 4 years younger. Dominican prospects and their 'buscones' (street scouts) do that, because agents won't sign prospects older than 16. Usually it takes a while to develop those kids. In the meantime, please post some insightful info, or just stay quiet.— EL Zorro
- Of course it would accomplish something to fake identities and say they are younger. There's an obvious aging curve in baseball and teams are more likely to take a chance on a younger player. And can you really blame foreign players for trying to fake ages and identities to escape that kind of environment? If two players had a stat line of 0.340/0.450/0.950 and one was listed at 25 and one at 32 who would be signed first?
Also, though the Cuban league is organized it's the equivalent of single A.
- Yeah, I heard that Class A comparison from one of those bloggers out there in the net. It must be a hell of a Class A league when they keep winning all those International tournaments. As a matter of fact it took ML players to beat Cuba in the Olympics in 2000 in 4 tries. Ben Sheets threw a hell of game. "Against Cuba, which had beaten the Americans 25 times in 28 games at major international tournaments, Sheets was nearly perfect. He threw a three-hit shutout, striking out five without giving up a walk for the victory.'' — EL Zorro
- The class A league comparison has been tossed around by many including Keith Law- who is a pretty reputable source on baseball happenings.
- Found it. From Law's chat today:
Question:
Thanks for the Lee answer. As far as the Cuban League, roughly what level would you say it would be equivalent to? AA? A+?
Answer
Low-A or worse. Pitching is very depleted. The problem with equating foreign leagues to a minor league level is that the foreign leagues (including NPB, KBO, etc) have much higher* spreads between the best and worst players.
*wider spreads, I should say.
- Hum, that's strange because most of the Cuban defectors who have or had success has been pitchers. — EL Zorro
- Zorro don't know if you've seen this. Just a small video of Soler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwfyBKBQQqU - How does signing this guy effect the payroll? Does it count for luxury tax purposes if the guy ends up playing in the minors?— 5LokoNYC
- That's the first time that I've hear RAJ called cheap? I guess that he has to spend over $200 million for Faber. Signing "19 year old" Cuban players for $30 million is never the way to restock the system. You could build 10 additional scouting departments for that money.— arijohns
