Cubs officially complete deal with Cuban slugger Soler

The Cubs were thinking and talking big Saturday as they finally made their deal official with Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler.

“You'll be really impressed when you see him physically — he's a huge, huge person,” said general manager Jed Hoyer, who announced the nine-year, $30 million major-league deal for the 20-year-old Soler.

Indeed, Soler is big. He's 6-feet-3 and 205 pounds of right-handed hitting power potential.

“We're excited,” Hoyer said. “This wasn't the best-kept secret of all-time. We're excited to sign Jorge Soler. We think he provides a ton of power potential for us. We scouted him heavily. It's a significant commitment for us, but we feel he fits very well into what we're trying to do. He's the right age, the right talent. We're excited to finally get him started.”

The Cubs and Soler came to terms earlier in June, but he had to pass a physical exam, and other paperwork items had to be completed.

Soler has played for Cuba in several international tournaments. In 2010, he batted .304 in seven games in helping Cuba to the bronze medal in the World Junior Championships. During the tournament, he had 1 strikeout and 9 walks.

The Cubs will send Soler to their spring-training facility in Arizona to get him acclimated. It's possible he could play for a Class A team before the season is over.

“We're going to start him out in right field, could even move him at some point,” Hoyer said. “He has huge power. It's hard to find power in today's game. That's a big part of why we were willing to make that kind of commitment; it is hard to find power. He's a huge guy with bat speed that's always generated a ton of power.”

Soler is on the 40-man major-league roster, but Hoyer said the Cubs will spend some time assimilating him into American life. Hoyer also said Soler won't be rushed through the system.

“We're going to develop him the same way we develop anyone,” the GM said. “But obviously, a little different care with a Cuban player. He's going to have to prove himself level to level. We're not going to try to speed him through the minors. There's no reason to do that. He's got to prove himself like anyone else from the system so we're going to treat him that way.”