The latest prospect from Cuba is drawing interest from a few heavy-hitting franchises, both in and out of the playoff race.
27-year-old Cuban prospect Rusney Castillo is coming to a major market team or playoff contender near you, according to reports from MLB Network's Peter Gammons and the New York Post's Joel Sherman.
Fellow Post writer George A. King is reporting that a source "familiar with the situation" says that Castillo and his team will work their way through offers this weekend and come up with a decision some time next week, after accepting proposals on Friday. He reportedly has interest from the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers.
There are questions -- raised in particular bySherman -- regarding Castillo's ability to acquire a work visa. Sherman believes that there will be added pressure on teams attempting to sign him for the stretch run with enough time for the government to process his application and for the team to process him through their minor league system.
For organizations like the Red Sox -- who Sherman cites along with the Tigers and Yankees as possible suitors -- there is obviously less concern or sense of urgency to get him either signed or promoted before the Aug. 31 40-man roster deadline.
Further complicating things is the hefty price tag that will come with Castillo. In his tweets, Gammons made specific mention of the Yankees and the tax issues they would have if they added what will likely be a massive bonus bill to their already punitive payroll. If the bonus market is, as Gammons speculates, in the $50 million dollar range for Castillo, he could cost the Bombers as much as $25 million extra just for signing his name.
But, if they play him at second -- instead of the outfield where most other teams have him projected -- he'd still be a bargain compared to Seattle's $240 million dollar man and former Yankees second baseman, Robinson Cano.