After passing on Cuban OF Yoenis Cespedes, the Chicago Cubs are reportedly in the lead for Jorge Soler, a fellow Cuban OF prospect, albeit one that is younger and further away from the majors. Soler would immediately improve what is seen by most as a middling Cubs farm system, but according to SB Nation's Grant Brisbee there's an even better reason for why Chicago, and other teams across baseball, should be going hard after Soler:
This should be the last time there's a bidding war for a young international free-agent. This is it. Starting in July, each team will have an allotment of cash for international free agents. If a team crosses that threshold, they have to pay all sorts of penalties, both financially and with their ability to sign future international free agents.
(via Baseball Nation)
Or, to put it more succinctly:
Soler is the last player that teams can throw money at where the only consequence is the initial expense. He's the end of an era.
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