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

[Guest]

Am I wrong about Soler needing to stick in the majors by Opening day 2015(Well, 10 days after) in order for this to matter? It sounds like the most optimistic case has him reaching Boise this year. He'd have to play out of his mind to get up in time.

 

Optimistically, I could see him in Peoria this year. But at this point, it would probably be a month of the season at Peoria, and would likely lead to him starting at Peoria in 2013.

[El Duderino]

When Jorge Soler was declared a free agent last week, agent Barry Praver sent an email to all teams to inform them that the deadline for initial bids was June 7. That indicated a quick negotiation window, and that window closer on Monday afternoon with Soler closing a nine-year, $30 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.

 

Without getting into the dynamics that went into such a deal, and future dynamics such as the potential for arbitration outs, let's focus on Soler the player. On a scouting level, Soler has a classic right-field profile. He's athletic, with at least average speed, and has decent instincts in center, which should serve him well in right, as well as a plus or better arm. His calling card offensively is raw power that has earned 70+ scores from scouts, but opinions are his pure hit tool are quite varied. There is clearly some swing and miss in his game, but he's shows the ability to make adjustments in international play. There is some stiffness to his swing, but it clearly has worked for him so far.

 

In the 2011 draft, Soler could have been a top ten pick. In the 2012 draft, he certainly would have been among the top eight, and likely top five. As for Soler's development, he will likely get acclimated to beisbol en Estados Unidos by spending some time at the Cubs complex in Arizona before getting shipped out to play somewhere in the neighborhood of six weeks in the minors before instructional leagues begin. A big league debut in 2014, while not out of the question, would be the most optimistic of scenarios. He has easy impact potential, but there are plenty of potential speed bumps between Soler reporting to camp and him reaching the big leagues.

 

Goldstein on Soler.

[Guest]

Does he even have a visa yet? Are they still as difficult to acquire?

[imb]

It was a joke dude. But yeah, he looks nothing like Wesley Snipes.

 

You're in the minority there.

 

hahahahhahhahahahhaha i hope this was intentional

[Guest]

Does he even have a visa yet? Are they still as difficult to acquire?

 

Apparently they're no longer as hard to acquire which is why the Cubs are far more willing than in the past to demote players from Extended Spring Training in the AZL down to the DSL.

[Guest]

It was a joke dude. But yeah, he looks nothing like Wesley Snipes.

 

You're in the minority there.

 

hahahahhahhahahahhaha i hope this was intentional

 

twas

[Guest]

So a first round pick that some believe projects to be the best player to come out of the 2012 draft (Almora), Soler and most likely the number 1 overall pick next year?

 

Couple that in with zero bad contracts when all of these guys are close to being ready for the bigs makes plenty to be excited about for the future.

[Cubswin11]

So a first round pick that some believe projects to be the best player to come out of the 2012 draft (Almora), Soler and most likely the number 1 overall pick next year?

 

Couple that in with zero bad contracts when all of these guys are close to being ready for the bigs makes plenty to be excited about for the future.

Agreed, there is major reason to be optimistic about the future. I wouldn't say the #1 pick next year is "most likely," a lot can happen, I feel prett confident we will have a top 3 pick though.

[Guest]

No Chiefs games for me this year. They are on the road the entire week I'll be in Peoria next month. Boo!

[SouthSideRyan]

Am I wrong about Soler needing to stick in the majors by Opening day 2015(Well, 10 days after) in order for this to matter? It sounds like the most optimistic case has him reaching Boise this year. He'd have to play out of his mind to get up in time.

 

I think that's right, and I also think it's not going to be an issue. I can't imagine the Cubs built in some sort of work around that would circumvent the CBA by having him go through the arbitration process but then revert back to being under contract.

 

2012, 2013 and 2014 are the first three years, and he's probably not going to sniff the big leagues in that time. So actually that would leave him with 6 years left on the deal and 6 years until free agency.

 

Wait, I forgot what year it is. Soler would need to be up for good by Opening Day 2014 to accumulate 6 full seasons worth of time.

[jersey cubs fan]

Am I wrong about Soler needing to stick in the majors by Opening day 2015(Well, 10 days after) in order for this to matter? It sounds like the most optimistic case has him reaching Boise this year. He'd have to play out of his mind to get up in time.

 

I think that's right, and I also think it's not going to be an issue. I can't imagine the Cubs built in some sort of work around that would circumvent the CBA by having him go through the arbitration process but then revert back to being under contract.

 

2012, 2013 and 2014 are the first three years, and he's probably not going to sniff the big leagues in that time. So actually that would leave him with 6 years left on the deal and 6 years until free agency.

 

Wait, I forgot what year it is. Soler would need to be up for good by Opening Day 2014 to accumulate 6 full seasons worth of time.

 

Right, I switched midstream after realizing the difference.

[Vinestal]

Wonder why the team still hasn't announced the signing. Would kinda be nice to see some quotes from Theo/Hoyer and some from the man himself and maybe some more contract details.

[UMFan83]

Probably working out the details. I'm guessing that's why they wanted everything wrapped up this week even though the deadline is July 2.

[davell]

First, we don't know if he's even in the US yet, or if he CAN come to the US yet. Secondly, we don't have a 40 man spot available at the moment, so we're probably in the middle of passing a guy through waivers. It took a while before we announced Concepcion was signed, could well be the case here as well.

[Guest]

First, we don't know if he's even in the US yet, or if he CAN come to the US yet. Secondly, we don't have a 40 man spot available at the moment, so we're probably in the middle of passing a guy through waivers. It took a while before we announced Concepcion was signed, could well be the case here as well.

 

Didn't a bunch of teams, Cubs included, just watch him in Florida last week?

[Clem Fandango]

First, we don't know if he's even in the US yet, or if he CAN come to the US yet. Secondly, we don't have a 40 man spot available at the moment, so we're probably in the middle of passing a guy through waivers. It took a while before we announced Concepcion was signed, could well be the case here as well.

 

Didn't a bunch of teams, Cubs included, just watch him in Florida last week?

 

Ironically, that actually WAS Wesley Snipes.

[davell]

First, we don't know if he's even in the US yet, or if he CAN come to the US yet. Secondly, we don't have a 40 man spot available at the moment, so we're probably in the middle of passing a guy through waivers. It took a while before we announced Concepcion was signed, could well be the case here as well.

 

Didn't a bunch of teams, Cubs included, just watch him in Florida last week?

 

If so, I missed that. The location part anyway. I knew he held a workout, not sure where it was.

[Illini Iceman]

First, we don't know if he's even in the US yet, or if he CAN come to the US yet. Secondly, we don't have a 40 man spot available at the moment, so we're probably in the middle of passing a guy through waivers. It took a while before we announced Concepcion was signed, could well be the case here as well.

 

Koyie Hill will be giving up his 40 man spot very soon I would think.

[Clem Fandango]

First, we don't know if he's even in the US yet, or if he CAN come to the US yet. Secondly, we don't have a 40 man spot available at the moment, so we're probably in the middle of passing a guy through waivers. It took a while before we announced Concepcion was signed, could well be the case here as well.

 

Koyie Hill will be giving up his 40 man spot very soon I would think.

 

If only we could be so lucky, but Brett notes that they might just bounce Blake Lalli... and that oddly seems accurate, unfortunately.

[Fro]

Wonder why the team still hasn't announced the signing. Would kinda be nice to see some quotes from Theo/Hoyer and some from the man himself and maybe some more contract details.

 

Theo got asked about that yesterday and said that he can't comment

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120612&content_id=33184722&notebook_id=33184726&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc&partnerId=rss_chc

 

"I saw those reports," said Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations. "I can't really address anything until it's official, and in this case, there's usually a process where there's an agreement and a term sheet, and then there's a immigration process in getting visas, and then there's a physical, and once the physical is done, the signing can be official."

 

He said situations like this usually take about a week on average, but it could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

[PrimeTime]

Probably the same process as the Concepcion signing..Weren't terms agreed upon, but they didn't officially announce it until about 2 weeks later?

[Little Slide Rooter]

•The Braves were right there with the Cubs and willing to spend $30MM on Jorge Soler, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB.com. The White Sox and Yankees, meanwhile, had bids that fell between $25MM and $30MM.

 

Looks like we know who our mystery team was.

[Sammy Sofa]

LIKE NINJAS AND [expletive].

[Pushfrog98]

all white people look alike

 

Yeah, I can't tell the difference between my uncle & my brother.

Trick question. They're the same person.

[A New Era]

When it's all said and done, will Soler get a press conference? Is the move considered big enough for one? I have no idea what goes into who gets one and who doesn't.