John Tomase breaks down Andrew Benintendi’s time with the Red Sox.
Chaim Bloom and the Boston Red Sox reportedly are in the mix to sign a young talent from Cuba -- if Bloom's former employer doesn't land him first.
The Red Sox are one of eight teams that have evaluated 16-year-old Cuban outfield prospect Luis Pino, ESPN's Enrique Rojas reported Monday.
According to Rojas, however, the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics are the current front-runners for Pino, while the Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs have all checked in on the young prospect.
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Pino will be eligible to sign as an international free agent on Jan. 15 and likely will fetch a signing bonus of more than $1 million, per Rojas.
The United States' embargo on Cuba forces workers to establish residence in a third country before signing with an American company, so Pino recently moved to the Dominican Republic to become eligible to sign with a major league club.
At 6-foot, 180 pounds, Pino boasts "more power than some scouts expected" and projects as a center fielder or right fielder, per ESPN analyst Kyle McDaniel.
Boston Red Sox
Here are some highlights from Pino's workout at a showcase last winter:
Bloom and his staff are tasked with rebuilding a barren Red Sox farm system, so their reported pursuit of Pino isn't a surprise. It sounds like they have plenty of competition, however.
