Jorge Soler On Red Sox Radar. Would Add Power to Outfield

The Jorge Soler front has been relatively quiet since spring training started, but some news today has changed that when one source reports that the Red Sox will pursue the Cuban defector, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com.

The 19-year old is still awaiting approval from Major League Baseball to become an unrestricted free-agent, which then at that point will cash in from a flurry of team’s interested.

Speier reports that the Cubs are the favorites to land Soler, but expects the Red Sox to give a strong push.  Soler is laced with power and is projected as a potential 30 home run candidate. While he’s reported as being “raw” he would give the Red Sox some options in the outfield.

Soler likely wouldn’t be ready for at least two years, bringing the calendar to 2014.  This also happens to be the last year that Jacoby Ellsbury is under contract, at least as of today.  It is in the best interest of Ben Cherington to prepare for all possibilities with Ellsbury which includes losing him to free-agency.  In this case, Soler could take either center or left field which would move Carl Crawford to center.

Of course if the Sox retain Ellsbury long-term, it could then be a battle for right field between Soler and Ryan Kalish.  If Soler proves to be the real deal then Kalish could be a tangible trade piece.

All of this hinges on whether or not Ben Cherington can win the bidding war for Soler.  On the horizon is a potential round two battle between Theo Epstein and Cherington, with Theo winning round one.

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