Top Cuban prospect Luis Robert declared an MLB free agent with White Sox ties
Robert is a 19-year-old outfielder who will command a big payday
Top Cuban prospect Luis Robert has been declared a free agent, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
Source: MLB has cleared free-agent Cuban outfielder Luis Robert to sign with a club.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 20, 2017
Robert, a 19-year-old outfielder, will be free to sign with any club come May 20, per MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez:
Source: Cuban OF prospect Luis Robert, 19, was declared a free agent today but will not be eligible to sign until May 20. @MLBPipeline
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) April 20, 2017
Ben Badler of Baseball America had previously covered the timing issues at play for Robert, who won't be subjected to the soon-to-be-enforced bonus-cap rules. (Though note the team that signs Robert will still have to pay whatever overage taxes it accumulates if it spends more than allotted.)
Here's what Badler wrote about Robert in early March, while noting the White Sox were the team that comes up the most often in association:
Robert has the talent of a first-round pick if he were in the draft. After he signs, he should be ready for an assignment to a low or high Class A affiliate. He has a strong, lean frame at 6-foot-3 with broad shoulders, a wide back and quick-twitch athleticism. A righthanded hitter with excellent bat speed and a sound swing, Robert has plus power with room to continue filling out and increase that in the future.
We'll see where Robert lands in the coming weeks, but he certainly sounds like a prospect worth watching.
















