Yoenis Cespedes wore a construction hat when given a tour of Marlins Park on Wednesday. The Marlins are hoping the next time he shows up he will be wearing one of their batting helmets.

The Marlins ramped up their courtship of the 26-year-old Cuban defector before showing the outfielder the place he will play in if he signs.

“It’s just the first step in the process,” said Adam Katz, the player’s agent, after completing a 40-minute tour of the Little Havana ballpark.

Katz refused to divulge any more details, including what other teams are pining for Cespedes and whether he will visit other major-league cities before making a decision.

But Katz said he hopes to have Cespedes with a team in time for spring training, which starts in two weeks. Marlins pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 22.

Cespedes has indicated a desire to play for the Marlins.

“I’ve seen the players the Marlins have signed lately, and I think this club can compete for the World Series,” he said in Spanish.

Even if the Marlins are successful in signing the multitalented slugger, one of the most coveted players to come out of Cuba in years, he will likely start the season in the minors.

Cespedes, who has been living in the Dominican Republic, looked rusty in winter-league action there recently. But Larry Beinfest, Marlins’ president of baseball operations, said that was to be expected given his lack of recent baseball activity.

“I don’t think you put a lot into that,” Beinfest said. “He had not been in competition for quite some time. And then to go out and start when the other guys have been playing, that’s a rough situation. He had just been idle for a long time, and it’s not easy to just go out and play.”

Teams are currently allowed to negotiate with Cespedes, who must first be legally cleared by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control before he is able to sign an actual deal.

• The Marlins lost yet another arbitration case Wednesday, this time to Emilio Bonifacio. Bonifacio prevailed in his hearing with the team when an independent panel of arbitrators ruled in his favor, awarding him the $2.2 million he sought for the 2012 season. The Marlins offered $1.95 million.

It is the second time this week that the Marlins have come out on the losing end of an arbitration decision. Pitcher Anibal Sanchez prevailed in his case, with arbitrators Monday awarding him his $8 million asking price.

While teams have fared better than players in arbitration hearings over the years, the Marlins haven’t done so well. The Marlins have gone 3-6 since 2005 in front of arbitrators compared to the combined 22-10 mark posted by the other 29 teams.

With Wednesday’s ruling, the Marlins have now lost their past five decisions.

• Jose Reyes’ dreadlocks sold for $10,200 on eBay.

That was the top bid for Reyes’ hair, which was cut Friday in order to comply with the team’s grooming policy.

Proceeds from the auction are going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.