"The A's have strong interest in 19-year-old Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler, according to a major-league source.

Oakland initially had considered pursing high-profile Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, but the team believes his price tag will be too high. In addition, Cespedes is believed to want a four-year deal, too short for the A's purposes when the team hopes to move into a new stadium in three years, or a 10-year deal, which is too lengthy.

Soler, seven years Cespedes' junior, fits better into the A's long-term plans for putting together a strong young team ready to contend in a potential new ballpark.

The Yankees, Phillies and Rangers are among those expected to bid on Soler, however, and it's believed that he might receive a contract worth $20 million or more. Baseball America has projected that Soler would have been a top-five pick had he been available in the 2010 draft."