"Yoenis Cespedes, a prized outfielder who defected from Cuba this past summer, is expected to be granted residency of the Dominican Republic this week, his representative told ESPN.com.

That's a necessary step before Major League Baseball declares him a free agent.

"We'll hear about it (Tuesday). We are confident that Yoenis will receive his documents this week," Edgar Mercedes, the player's representative, told ESPN.com. "In January we'll be authorized to sign (with a major league team). We are on time to sign for the next season, because spring training will start on the second week of February.""