CONFIRMED: CUBS GET SOLER!!! 9yrs/30 mill

[davell]

Those new rules are so [expletive] stupid.

 

 

Yep. I have no doubt whatsoever that Theo planned to come in here, spend 20 mill or so on the draft and probably another 10 on IFA. Or at least close to those figures. I honestly wonder if he would have came here, if he had known these were going to be the new rules.

[bukie]

Those new rules are so [expletive] stupid.

It's as if the owners got together, singled out one hypothetical owner that complained the most about draft spending, who we'll call "Ferry Jeinsdorr", and went with his plan for the new agreement because otherwise all 30 teams weren't going to be on equal footing in the draft.

[sneakypower]

for privacy's sake, lets call him "Jerry R."...no, that's too obvious. uhh, let's say "J. Reinsdorf"

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Those new rules are so [expletive] stupid.

 

Really poorly timed for our new FO as well...big boo all around.

 

This kind of thing only happens to the Cubs?

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Those new rules are so [expletive] stupid.

 

Really poorly timed for our new FO as well...big boo all around.

 

This kind of thing only happens to the Cubs?

 

No, it happened to everyone. Unfortunately, not everyone is a big money franchise who just hired a big money president and GM known for building one of the best player development machines in the sport. Not that I expect these rules to be anything more than a new, fun challenge for these guys...

[Clem Fandango]

Nothing new...

 

As far as MLB teams know, Jorge Soler isn’t officially a free agent yet, Ben Badler of Baseball America tweets. This means teams can’t yet negotiate with the promising young outfielder.

[PosterToBeNamedLater]

for privacy's sake, lets call him "Jerry R."...no, that's too obvious. uhh, let's say "J. Reinsdorf"

 

One of my favorite simpson's quotes.

[Brett]

Nothing new...

 

As far as MLB teams know, Jorge Soler isn’t officially a free agent yet, Ben Badler of Baseball America tweets. This means teams can’t yet negotiate with the promising young outfielder.

 

Rarely is a non-update considered a legitimate update. But this is.

 

I've been trying to decide if the delay benefits or hurts the Cubs, assuming they are the "favorite" (whatever that exactly means in this context). On the one hand, some teams may have whittled down their budget for this year by the end of the offseason; on the other hand, who knows how teams budget, right? For all we know, teams' budget year just flipped from 2011/2012 to 2012/2013, or perhaps even other teams are willing to make an exception for Soler - and now they have some additional 2012 revenue to work with.

 

I'm just spit-balling. Ultimately, I'm not sure I see a connection, but it does make me wonder.

[jersey cubs fan]

Nothing new...

 

As far as MLB teams know, Jorge Soler isn’t officially a free agent yet, Ben Badler of Baseball America tweets. This means teams can’t yet negotiate with the promising young outfielder.

 

Rarely is a non-update considered a legitimate update. But this is.

 

I've been trying to decide if the delay benefits or hurts the Cubs, assuming they are the "favorite" (whatever that exactly means in this context). On the one hand, some teams may have whittled down their budget for this year by the end of the offseason; on the other hand, who knows how teams budget, right? For all we know, teams' budget year just flipped from 2011/2012 to 2012/2013, or perhaps even other teams are willing to make an exception for Soler - and now they have some additional 2012 revenue to work with.

 

I'm just spit-balling. Ultimately, I'm not sure I see a connection, but it does make me wonder.

 

The Cubs were clear-cut favorites 2 months ago. Now it is less clear. Not sure how the delay can be anything but detrimental.

[dew1679666265]

The Cubs were clear-cut favorites 2 months ago. Now it is less clear. Not sure how the delay can be anything but detrimental.

 

Especially with the June (or July is it?) deadline approaching. At best, the delay is neutral for the Cubs. I think it's a bad thing, though.

[Guest]

The Cubs were clear-cut favorites 2 months ago. Now it is less clear. Not sure how the delay can be anything but detrimental.

 

Especially with the June (or July is it?) deadline approaching. At best, the delay is neutral for the Cubs. I think it's a bad thing, though.

 

The new international signing rules go into place on July 2nd.

[Little Slide Rooter]

FFS, doesn't Theo have some fat cousin Jorge can marry an become a citizen and then we can sign him.

[dew1679666265]

The Cubs were clear-cut favorites 2 months ago. Now it is less clear. Not sure how the delay can be anything but detrimental.

 

Especially with the June (or July is it?) deadline approaching. At best, the delay is neutral for the Cubs. I think it's a bad thing, though.

 

The new international signing rules go into place on July 2nd.

 

Thanks. I knew it was either June or July 2nd.

[davell]

I wonder if the Fausto Carmona issue has slowed this process down? That said, it may have happened before Cespedes and it didn't affect him. Just spitballing, but this had better come to a head before July 2nd, or else we've got some big decisions to make, concerning the IFA period.

[Guest]

John (New York City, NY): Why is it taking so long for Jorge Soler to be declared a free agent when Cespedes was declared months ago? Didn't they arrive in the U.S at the same time?

 

Ben Badler: My understanding is Soler left Cuba a little after Cespedes. The process typically takes about a year for these guys to clear, though how Cespedes and Concepcion got their paperwork cleared so fast is not a question I can really answer, other than that everyone who's involved in that market says there's quite a bit of politics involved. Whether Soler can get cleared and signed before July 2 is going to be one of the big stories in baseball over the next two months.

[C.C.]

John (New York City, NY): Why is it taking so long for Jorge Soler to be declared a free agent when Cespedes was declared months ago? Didn't they arrive in the U.S at the same time?

 

Ben Badler: My understanding is Soler left Cuba a little after Cespedes. The process typically takes about a year for these guys to clear, though how Cespedes and Concepcion got their paperwork cleared so fast is not a question I can really answer, other than that everyone who's involved in that market says there's quite a bit of politics involved. Whether Soler can get cleared and signed before July 2 is going to be one of the big stories in baseball over the next two months.

 

What does he have a crappy agent or something? Doesn't make any sense that the others got cleared so quickly and he still on hold?

[Guest]

John (New York City, NY): Why is it taking so long for Jorge Soler to be declared a free agent when Cespedes was declared months ago? Didn't they arrive in the U.S at the same time?

 

Ben Badler: My understanding is Soler left Cuba a little after Cespedes. The process typically takes about a year for these guys to clear, though how Cespedes and Concepcion got their paperwork cleared so fast is not a question I can really answer, other than that everyone who's involved in that market says there's quite a bit of politics involved. Whether Soler can get cleared and signed before July 2 is going to be one of the big stories in baseball over the next two months.

 

What does he have a crappy agent or something? Doesn't make any sense that the others got cleared so quickly and he still on hold?

 

The holdup is with the U.S. government, not something to do with his agent.

[C.C.]

John (New York City, NY): Why is it taking so long for Jorge Soler to be declared a free agent when Cespedes was declared months ago? Didn't they arrive in the U.S at the same time?

 

Ben Badler: My understanding is Soler left Cuba a little after Cespedes. The process typically takes about a year for these guys to clear, though how Cespedes and Concepcion got their paperwork cleared so fast is not a question I can really answer, other than that everyone who's involved in that market says there's quite a bit of politics involved. Whether Soler can get cleared and signed before July 2 is going to be one of the big stories in baseball over the next two months.

 

What does he have a crappy agent or something? Doesn't make any sense that the others got cleared so quickly and he still on hold?

 

The holdup is with the U.S. government, not something to do with his agent.

 

God damn you Obama!!!!!!!!

[Little Slide Rooter]

John (New York City, NY): Why is it taking so long for Jorge Soler to be declared a free agent when Cespedes was declared months ago? Didn't they arrive in the U.S at the same time?

 

Ben Badler: My understanding is Soler left Cuba a little after Cespedes. The process typically takes about a year for these guys to clear, though how Cespedes and Concepcion got their paperwork cleared so fast is not a question I can really answer, other than that everyone who's involved in that market says there's quite a bit of politics involved. Whether Soler can get cleared and signed before July 2 is going to be one of the big stories in baseball over the next two months.

 

What does he have a crappy agent or something? Doesn't make any sense that the others got cleared so quickly and he still on hold?

 

The holdup is with the U.S. government, not something to do with his agent.

 

[expletive] you Obama!!!!!!!!

 

He's trying to delay Solers free agency long enough for the White Sox to clear enough payroll to beat the Cubs offer.

[Guest]

John (New York City, NY): Why is it taking so long for Jorge Soler to be declared a free agent when Cespedes was declared months ago? Didn't they arrive in the U.S at the same time?

 

Ben Badler: My understanding is Soler left Cuba a little after Cespedes. The process typically takes about a year for these guys to clear, though how Cespedes and Concepcion got their paperwork cleared so fast is not a question I can really answer, other than that everyone who's involved in that market says there's quite a bit of politics involved. Whether Soler can get cleared and signed before July 2 is going to be one of the big stories in baseball over the next two months.

 

What does he have a crappy agent or something? Doesn't make any sense that the others got cleared so quickly and he still on hold?

 

The holdup is with the U.S. government, not something to do with his agent.

 

[expletive] you Obama!!!!!!!!

More like [expletive] you new immigration laws. There are many more hoops to go through than in the past. And people wonder why there are so many illegals.

[Geech]

For Soler's sake, I hope get becomes a free agent before the July deadline. I have to imagine his value would plunge if he didn't make it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

For Soler's sake, I hope get becomes a free agent before the July deadline. I have to imagine his value would plunge if he didn't make it.

 

I mostly hope it for the Cubs' sake.

[Guest]

@BenBadler: My bet is he signs before the new rules. Not a free agent yet though RT @jayrreeder will Soler end up having to sign under the new rules?

[Clem Fandango]

Possible stick in the bicycle spokes of Soler's future...

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/06/01/developing-and-potentially-jorge-soler-impacting-story-edgar-mercedes-arrested-in-dr-for-human-trafficking/

 

Edgar Mercedes, one of the most important figures on the international baseball scene, and the advisor who helped bring Yoenis Cespedes to the U.S., was arrested in the DR for human trafficking. From Ben Badler at Baseball America:

 

Edgar Mercedes, the powerful Dominican trainer who represented Yoenis Cespedes and has been a part of some of baseball’s most expensive international amateur signings, was arrested yesterday in the Dominican Republic on charges of smuggling Cuban players into the country.

 

While the charges are technically called human trafficking, they stem from bringing Cuban baseball players into the country in what police have labeled a criminal organization …. Authorities also seized boats, cars, phones, radios, GPS devices, passports and other documents.

 

The usual caveats apply: we don’t know all of the details, and we don’t know if this guy has actually done anything wrong. Also, “human trafficking” is a loaded charge, so it necessarily comes with an added layer of discomfort, even if this isn’t quite what you think of when you hear of the term.

 

Mercedes is not, to my knowledge, directly involved with Jorge Soler. But given the nature of these allegations and his huge role in the Latin baseball community, you can understand why this could throw a huge wrench in the Soler residency process (if it hasn’t already). Badler notes the same on Twitter.

[CyHawk_Cub]

You suckers still think Soler is a real person? :-o