The White Sox told reporters (including James Fegan of Sox Machine) that third baseman Yoán Moncada will be activated for tomorrow’s game against the Angels. Moncada has been out with a left adductor strain since April 9. Prior to his injury, he was off to a relatively strong start in 2024, going 11-for-39 (.282) with a 122 wRC+ in 11 games.
Moncada has dealt with injuries in almost every season of his career, and outside of a phenomenal performance in 2019, he has struggled to live up to his top prospect billing. However, if he can be just a league-average hitter and a capable defender at third base, the 29-year-old will represent a huge upgrade for the White Sox lineup over the final two weeks of the season. Miguel Vargas, who has been starting for the club at third base since the trade deadline, is batting .112 with a .395 OPS so far in his brief tenure on the South Side. He has made four errors in just 27 games at third base, accruing -2 OAA and -2 DRS. The White Sox aren’t going to give up Vargas (himself a former top prospect) just yet, but there is no denying that Moncada should make for a significant improvement.
Chicago doesn’t have much to play for this year, but the club is still hoping to avoid setting a new modern-day record for most losses in a season. Meanwhile, Moncada is looking to make a strong impression before most likely entering free agency in the offseason; the White Sox are all but certain to turn down his $25MM club option for 2025 in favor of a $5MM buyout.
More from around the AL Central:
- Michael Lorenzen was dominant over his first five starts with the Royals after the trade deadline (1.85 ERA in 24 1/3 IP) before a left hamstring strain forced him to the 15-day IL. He has not pitched since August 27. Lorenzen made his second rehab appearance this past Friday, and prior to the game, Anne Rogers of MLB.com noted the right-hander was likely to rejoin the team this coming week. However, Rogers reported today that he was “more sore than normal” following his rehab outing, so the Royals will need to wait and see how he feels in the coming days before determining his next steps. The phrasing “more sore than normal” doesn’t necessarily suggest a serious setback, but it’s far less likely Lorenzen will be pitching in Kansas City this week.
- Twins manager Rocco Baldelli revealed that outfielder/DH Trevor Larnach is playing through a hamstring injury (per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic). That explains why he hasn’t played the field since last Tuesday. It also explains why, in Gleeman’s words, he’s running “at way less than full speed.” It’s surely concerning for the Twins that their cleanup hitter is nursing an injury, but Baldelli suggests the hamstring issue hasn’t had an impact on Larnach’s swing. That’s certainly a relief for Twins fans, considering how important Larnach has been to this offense. He rarely plays against left-handed pitching, but he has been one of Minnesota’s better bats when he has the platoon advantage. He boasts a team-leading 15 home runs and 47 RBI against right-handed pitching, with a .792 OPS and a 125 wRC+. The Twins will have to hope his hamstring injury doesn’t turn into anything more serious.
Knowing he’s playing for a future paycheck, I’m betting on Moncada to play well ros.
For what reason should they play Moncada? He’s not the future. Vargas is. There is no positive outcome for the White Sox by playing anyone else.
Stymee
“There is no positive outcome for the White Sox by playing anyone else.”
Not forfeiting because you didn’t field a full lineup which means Vargas can play.
They are paying him a lot of money, so make him get out there and perform! He has nothing to lose and everything to prove if he wants to play ball next year. Let’s see if he can make it to the end of the month without getting hurt.
At the very least, we can see the last player left from 2017s SUCCESSFUL rebuild.
Be a weird irony if the Red Sox signed him to play second base.
Did you just make that all up?
They need Moncada back for the late season push. I actually liked some of what White Sox did but I think when your rebuilding it’s good to spend a little to have trade chips (and not be a disgrace of a team). There were so many buy low pitchers for instance. Perhaps owners don’t fully get that investing even in a horrible season is gonna help you in long term. Even Mets huge deals got them some prospects (and those certainly weren’t bargain players on cheap deals appealing to other teams).
Do you actually think they won’t buy out the option? Assuming they keep him at that salary, do you really think he will have trade value?
I certainly don’t.
I don’t get what you are saying. Reread the comment. I didn’t say anything about Moncada having trade value. I merely said they should’ve spent some more money to get some trade chips to help their rebuild.
How many innings until Moncada is injured again?
Considering Moncada was running the bases when he got hurt, he probably gets hurt running to first base…
Are you saying he’s a member of the Anthony Rendon Academy of Injury Sciences?
I give him one week.
ONE WEEK!
White Sox could re-sign Moncada to like a one-year 2 million dollar-deal, see if he has the ability to bounce back and then flip him at deadline just like they did with Paul De Jong this season.
I think Moncada has more respect for himself than to play for this organization any longer.
There is an alternative Avenger.. he had to pay a small fortune (then) to get escape from it tho, but one would think he’d be welcomed back to said league anytime..