The consensus best J2 free agent since Miguel Sano (some say since Miguel Cabrera), is eligible to sign in about 8 hours.

The Braves have reportedly had a verbal agreement to sign him for somewhere just north of $4M for just over a year (largest ever Venezuelan bonus).

Keith Law says the Nats are daring him to break that agreement by offering him $7M+.

We are still the heavy favorites, but I am beginning to get a little nervous.

Here are some brief scouting reports

FanGraphs:

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1. Kevin Maitan, SS/3B, Venezuela

Where to begin? How about at age 12? That’s when scouts started to identify Maitan as this class’s top overall player. By age 14, Maitan already had everything scouts are looking for in a baseball prospect. A picturesque build, good defensive actions at shortstop with plenty of arm for the position and not just usable but potentially impactful swings from both sides of the plate — as well as power projection to accompany it. The Braves have been all over Maitan for a few years and are expected to sign him for about $4 million.

I have a 55 FV on Maitan, the same future-value grade as Kiley McDaniel placed on Yadier Alvarez last year. But Alvarez was three years older than Maitan is now and risk/proximity to the majors factors in to future value. There’s a chance that Maitan develops a plus hit tool and plus raw power from both sides of the plate. His left-handed swing is of the traditional, low-ball variety and has a beautiful high finish. The bat is quick into the zone and long through it, producing gap-to-gap contact right now that should move toward and over outfield fences as Maitan matures.

From the right side, Maitan’s wrists are a little looser, his hands more surgical and his bat control more advanced. He looks more comfortable from this side right now but will get more reps in pro ball from the left side because most opposing pitchers will throw right-handed.

Defensively, I’ve had scouts put anything between a 55 to a 70 on Maitan’s arm. Grades on players like Maitan, who are locked into deals early, are often more volatile than they are on other players because, once they’ve agreed to deals, they show up at workouts and showcases less frequently. This is likely why grades on Maitan’s arm are so disparate and I’ve split the difference and assigned his arm a 60. His actions at short are solid and confident but there’s a chance he outgrows the position, slows down and has to move to third base. There are some evaluators, especially the ones highest on his arm strength, who think Maitan might remain at shortstop even if he does slow down because some of his other skills will hide a lack of range.

This is the best 16-year-old international free agent since Miguel Sano and he has a chance to be very special, especially if he can remain at shortstop.

Braves Special Assistant to the GM Gordon Blakeley

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“My comparison when I talked to our people was Chipper Jones,” said Blakeley, and by “our people” he meant Braves officials whom he quickly convinced that Maitan should be the guy the Braves didn’t let slip to another team, since any and every team that seriously taps this international vein of talent had interest in Maitan.

Here’s what else Blakeley had to say about Maitan when I talked with him in February.

“First of all, he’s a 6.6 runner in the 60, so he can run. He has power from both sides of the plate, he can hit a ball out of a big league ballpark now. He’s got good hands. He’s probably gonna end up 6-3, 215. For me, Chipper until he hurt his legs could play short, could play third, could have played center. Chipper could have done anything Chipper wanted to do . Maitan reminds me a lot of Chipper Jones.

“Big time power from both sides, and does it easy. Bat whip. Loves to play, loves to compete.”

And this: “We think we’ll get him, we think we have a good chance. In the long run, he’s the best player in the international market. Somebody we’ve focused in on for the last year-and-a-half. We want to land him. To me, he’s the big fish… It’s our opinion as a staff that Kevin is the best potential player in the world for July 2.”

Keith Law

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Maitan is a physical shortstop who has been a top prospect since he was 14 years old because of the potential in his bat. He has surprising power for his age and a good feel to hit from both sides, although his right-handed swing looks more consistent. His hands are loose and quick, but the swing gets pretty long, and he could develop as Miguel Sano did, striking out often when young but developing better plate discipline as he grows because he's such a good hitter. He has no shot at remaining at shortstop in pro ball but has a plus arm, and he has a decent chance to stick at third base.

Atlanta has been known to have a deal in place with Maitan for over a year now, although the Nationals have been aggressive in trying to sign him, as well.

In Depth Scouting Report/Feature from Baseball America