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Report: White Sox close to deal worth over $25M with Cuban phenom Robert

Charles Norfleet / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The race to sign one of the market's hottest young prodigies may be nearly over, as the Chicago White Sox are reportedly finalizing a deal with Cuban outfield prospect Luis Robert worth more than $25 million, a source told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.

Robert attracted plenty of interest in recent weeks, and the White Sox reportedly emerged as last-minute favorites for his signature alongside the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Due to a limited spending bonus on international free agents, the Cardinals may have been priced out of the race. Robert's reported deal with Chicago would have surpassed the $50-million mark with St. Louis due to penalty taxes, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Though only 19 years old, Robert has been considered the second-best international talent, right behind Japanese pitcher-slugger hybrid Shohei Otani. One American League scout even referred to Robert as the "best player on the planet" in February.

Robert slashed .401/.526/.687 in 53 games in 2016 with Ciego de Avila in the Cuban National Series. He also slashed .286/.319/.397 in a shorter appearance (16 games) in the CanAm league in 2016.

Saturday was the first day Robert was eligible to sign with a major-league side after he was officially declared a free agent by MLB one month ago.

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