Report: Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs Among Teams Interested in 19-Year-Old Cuban Slugger Jorge Soler

by John Beattie on Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 2:32PM

With Yoenis Cespedes signed, all eyes are now focused on his fellow countryman, Jorge Soler.

The 19-year-old right-handed slugger from Cuba is considered baseball’s next biggest thing and the majority of baseball’s big-market teams are rumored to be interested in the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder.

According to reports from MLB.com and Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox are among teams reportedly interested in the prospect.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told Rosenthal that he expects Soler to receive more than the $15.5 million contract that the Rangers gave Cuban outfielder Leonys Martin.

Other teams reportedly interested are the Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Orioles, Red Sox, Cubs and White Sox.

Once Soler gains residency in the Dominican Republic, MLB can declare him a free agent. However, he still must be legally cleared by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control before he can sign a contract.