One of the league's top prospect gurus, Keith Law of ESPN, has chimed in on the recent OF Jorge Soler signing. According to Law, the newest Chicago Cubs prospect would have been a top talent in the 2012 MLB draft, but instead will get a fair market deal with the Cubs:
Had Soler been in this year's draft, he would probably have been a top-five pick on merit, definitely in the top 10. The fact that he got a reported $25 million to $35 million across nine years when the first overall pick signed for a $4.8 million bonus ... shows just how badly the draft underprices and underpays eligible players. Some of those savings are shifted to other prospects, but most ends up back in the pockets of MLB owners.
Law also reports the 20-year-old now ranks as the Cubs' No. 2 prospect behind only 1B Anthony Rizzo, but the value of the contract may be somewhat limited as Soler has an option to opt-out of the contract if he wants to undergo salary arbitration.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.