Cuban free agent Yoan Moncada hopes to sign with an MLB team by Feb. 23, according to an ESPN.com report. Moncada, a coveted 19-year-old switch-hitting infielder who defected over the summer, is expected to command a bonus so large that any acquiring team will pay a steep tax and give up opportunities to sign other international free agents.

Because he’s so young, Moncada doesn’t come with the type of international resume boasted by guys like Jose Abreu and Aroldis Chapman when they signed, and whatever club does take on Moncada incurs a good deal of risk. But players with Moncada’s upside aren’t exactly easy to come by, especially on the open market. Ben Badler of Baseball America summed it up in August:

If Moncada were eligible for the 2015 draft, he would be in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick… there’s no player in Cuba with Moncada’s combination of youth, tools and hitting ability…. In 2012-13, Moncada made his Serie Nacional debut for Cienfuegos, where he was teammates with White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and Dodgers shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena. Moncada performed well for a 17-year-old, hitting .283/.414/.348 in 172 plate appearances with 13 stolen bases in 18 attempts. Moncada also made his mark at the league’s all-star game, where Cuba holds certain skill competitions in addition to a home run derby. Among the events are races to first base and around the bases. At the 2012-13 all-star game, Moncada won both races, beating (Rusney) Castillo, a 70 runner on the 20-80 scale, and Guillermo Heredia, a 60 runner who started in center field in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Here are some highlights from Moncada going 3-for-4 with a walk in a U18 tournament against Team U.S.A. in 2013. Two of the hits are bunts, but they show off his speed:

Most experts seem to agree that Moncada will rank among the game’s top 20 prospects as soon as he signs. Since he has been declared an amateur free agent, the team that signs him will have him under control for six big-league seasons.

Though domestic prospects are subject to the draft and limited to negotiating with only one big-league organization, Moncada will benefit from the competition. And because most young international players sign at age 16, Moncada’s physical maturity and apparent near-readiness for big-league play will also drive up his price.

Multiple clubs have hosted Moncada for private workouts, and he has been linked in rumors to the Dodgers, Padres, Red Sox and Yankees. Needless to say, where he ends up will depend on which teams most value the chance to add a top prospect for big money, and which have the financial wherewithal to do so.