Yoenis Cespedes, a highly regarded Cuban outfielder, is expected to meet with officials from the Miami Marlins tomorrow to discuss joining the revamped club, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Cespedes is currently a free agent after defecting from Cuba in the summer of 2011, and the Marlins are one of a handful teams interested in the services of the versatile outfielder.
The Marlins have been one of the more active baseball teams during the off-season, signing free agents Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and Heath Bell in hopes of building a perennial contender in South Florida. The addition of the 26 year-old Cespedes would bring to the organization a player who some project as a "five-tool" prospect, though he would likely begin the season on one of the club's minor league rosters. Miami is currently projecting to start Emilio Bonifacio in center with Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison taking the corner outfield positions when the season commences, but think enough of Cespedes's talent to still bring him in for discussions. The bidding for Yoenis could reach as high as the $60 million mark, Spencer reports, but Marlins owner Jeffery Loria has proved this winter he is not afraid to spend money to put a winning team on the field.
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