Infielder Yoán Moncada is going to get some reps next month. Per Francys Romero on X, Moncada will play for Cuba in the upcoming Premier12 tournament, which is set to take place in multiple countries in November.
He’s likely happy to get the playing time, as he only got 45 plate appearances over 12 games in 2024. That was mostly due to injury, as Moncada suffered a left adductor strain in April and didn’t come off the IL until mid-September. Even when he was back with the club, the Sox didn’t play him much, preferring to give the work to younger players with more potential to contribute in the long run.
Moncada is about to become a free agent. The Sox have a $25MM club option to keep him around for 2025 but they will certainly go for the $5MM buyout instead, since he hasn’t been his best self in a while.
Marketing himself to other clubs in free agency will be a challenge after an essentially lost season, which is surely part of the reason he’s planning to put his spikes on and play next month. He was also limited by injuries in the previous two seasons, playing just 196 games over 2022 and 2023 while hitting .234/.288/.386 for a wRC+ of 86.
Though he’s been injury prone of late and has seemingly been around forever, it’s easy to forget that he still hasn’t celebrated his 30th birthday, which will be in May. His high-profile defection from Cuba was over a decade ago, but he was just a teenager at that time. He went on to sign a huge deal with the Red Sox, when that was still possible under the old amateur spending rules, later getting traded to the White Sox as part of the Chris Sale mega trade before signing a notable extension with Chicago.
But he’s still relatively young and was in good form as recently as a few years ago. In 2021, he stayed healthy enough to play 144 games for the Sox. He slashed .263/.375/.412 that year for a 120 wRC+. He also received solid marks for his glovework, as he usually does, leading to a tally of 3.7 wins above replacement in the eyes of FanGraphs.
The recent injuries and tepid performance will both send him to free agency and knock down his earning power on the open market, but it’s possible that some clubs will view him as a strong bounceback candidate who could potentially provide strong return on a modest investment.
Dude is going to be a Marlin in 2025…
positively_broad_st;
Hard to read Peter Bendix at this point.
Even harder to read the Marlins with Gabe Kapler as an Ass’t GM.
A sox-related news flash: On local radio it was revealed that Reinsdorf hadn’t told anyone about his alleged plan to sell the team, that when Pohlad announced he was selling the Twins, the commissioner and everyone else already knew about it. Also, Dave Stewart is a buddy of larussa, so there’s another red flag. Reinsdorf seems to be threatening to sell the team unless he gets his new stadium. What a pinhead.
Reinsdorf seems to be threatening to sell the team unless he gets his new stadium.
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This s similar to what Moreno was threatening, Then he found out that no one cared if he sold.
He ain’t getting no new stadium funded for him. Chicago ain’t falling for that twice. He used to have clout. Now he’s just an old man shouting at clouds. Still owes money on the current stadium too.
This has Tampa Bay written all over it
Nobody is signing with Tampa until they figure out where they are playing
That depends on what other offers they get.
Why will they not need players?
The intent of the comment was that Tampa Bay has a long history of targeting and succeeding with targeting post hype prospects. They picked up a couple at this year’s trade deadline.
I don’t see why. Their infield prospects are better and cheaper
I guess he is hoping to hit some missiles for Cuba.
Buyer beware, he’s a headcase. He will make stupid baserunning mistakes, and will flub the ball at 3B. Very erratic in all aspects. Good luck to him wherever he goes. Probably a minor league deal or a very heavily-incentivized major league deal, even less than the 5 million Tim Anderson got from Miami a year ago.
Flub the ball? He’s exceptionally smooth at 3b, when healthy, one of the best at the hot corner, as the story notes. He also hasn’t been fully healthy in a while either but that’s another story.
I agree, Dumpster Divin Theo. I’ve watched him play since he came to the Sox and he’s always been one of the best at 3B. Acoss, you must have been watching one of the dozen or so guys playing 3B this year.
Because it’s the White Sox, he’s going to have breakout seasons for say the Dodgers or Brewers or DBacks or another soundly run club, while Getsy rolls the hapless 12 headed monster of Vargas, Sosa and a thousand Zach Remilliards in the infield. Better yet, hope he excels on the North side. How can you assemble a hapless back two-thirds of the lineup and still come up near the bottom in DWAR?
Avenger,
My recollection of Moncada’s time at 3B is hazy since he’s barely played any games. All I can say is bat to ball skills can be great when he’s healthy. He gets on base, he works the count, and he can slug when needed. His baseball IQ drops when it comes to base running, that I can say I remember well. His defense, I’ll concede and say I might not remember it as well.
He is an excellent 3rd baseman. Where do some of u get this bs u say. Just talking to talk.
He’s going to want to go some place he’ll have a chance to play and prove himself.
A club will need to take a gamble on him that shouldn’t cost much.
He’s actually a great fit here. Third base is open 100+ games per year and Rengifo should start at second and spell SS until he gets traded at the deadline, leaving Moncada 2B once a week or so.
He’d get plenty of looks in camp and throughout the year. If he sucks, no big loss. If he happens to bounce back, great.
You guys have Ron Washington, he’s the perfect manager to get Moncada straighten out. Both defensively and offensively, plus he should be a cheap one-year deal for when Rendon inevitably gets hurt.
Sure hope the Cubs sign him.
Are you a Cardinals fan?
He should just stay there.
I hope he does but they want to give it to someone who will no doubt be worse.
I could see the braves taking a chance on him to pair with Kelenic in left field IF they are able to alleviate the logjam with Soler and Ozuna.
AA likes buy low candidates.
Why would they sign a 3b to play the outfield?
To be honest I admittedly remember some of the discussions a few years ago that they considered giving Moncada outfield time. I mistakenly assumed that he had actually spent at least a few innings there.
With that said there are multiple examples of infielders who also played more than adequately in the outfield. I would think that Moncada could also do so fairly easily. It would certainly expand his potential landing spots and his value.
He’s barely spent a few innings at 3B.
He played all his games at 3b defensively. He was just hurt all year. He hasn’t played anywhere but 3b since 2018.
Uh yeah. That was kinda my point.
Omg for the millionth time the braves don’t have to urgently trade ozuna and/or soler
Who said anything about urgently trading them?
I said there is a logjam that needs alleviating. You could keep both of course then you would still have two bat first players with iron gloves who are best adapted to DH. They may continue to go that way and sub out Soler in the later innings defensively. However it does make more sense to see if a deal could be made, otherwise once Acuna comes back Soler is likely to be only an expensive part time player.
Although they should dump Ozuna simply for being Ozuna.
If Turang takes the place of Adames at shortstop for the Brewers, the Brewers could sign Moncada and revive his career.
Joey Ortiz will probably slide into short. Leave Turang at 2B. I could see the brewers bringing him in for a camp tryout and the minors for depth. They are thin at 3rd unless Tyler black suddenly snatches the job. Black might also be better suited for 1B, so Moncada could be a fit at the right price.
Moncada is such a unique case. He didn’t seem very good defensively at 2B. He has lost the past 3 seasons and nothing indicates he has overcome his injury affliction. When he was healthy, he seemed solid at 3B. A contender is not going to want to count on him, so he would likely be a bench option. A rebuilding team will want to play their long term options, and no one is going to sign him to a long term agreement. In fact, any contract will likely have games played incentives in it. He needs to find a non contender who doesn’t have a prospect ready to take over at 3B, and is on a budget. Maybe Toronto?
He could have value to a rebuilding team by keeping their 3b prospect in AAA until mid-season and then either trading him or letting him go if he doesn’t bounce back. Not sure what team exactly that is but it could make sense.
Moncada’s position is absolutely 3B. He’s very solid there. However, he can’t stay on the field. He is very streaky. He doesn’t play with passion or seem particularly dedicated to his craft.
He’s already gotten paid big time. I would not count on him for much. I can tell you that few Sox fans like the guy or would want him back.
Roob- you don’t speak for all or most Sox fans. When healthy, Moncada, along with Robert, were the only above average defenders on a leaky club (not counting utility types Nicky Lopez and Yolmer Sanchez). And he has one of the most disciplined approaches at the plate, sees a lot of pitches. Maybe he learned this coming up through the Red Sox system? He has a laid back easy going manner, and difficult plays come easy to him so guess that throws off people looking for grindy fake hustle Nick Madrigal-Adam Eaton-Nick Swisher prototypes.
roob : To the contrary, Sox fans – the ones I know – like Moncada. What’s not to like about him? He plays great defense and his hitting was coming around at the end of 2023 and at the start of this season before he got hurt. If you were a Sox fan you would know his situation and what he’s gone through the last five years.
Yoan moncada, mariners opening day 2025 3rd baseman batting 3rd or 5th
Sigh. I fear this will be our biggest FA signing.
Came here to say exactly this. Mariners will sign him, trade one of their starters for another washed up unreliable hitter and sell it to the fans as the big push to try to win. So tired of our owners and dipoto. Absolute trash
Rather keep Rojas or let the Moose play 3rd
I wouldn’t say Moncada has been a bust per se, but it is hard to look at his career thus far and not be disappointed following his #1 overall pedigree. It’s about the same with Jurickson Profar. Both have had fine careers, but disappointing for the top prospect of a year.
Any others come to mind that aren’t necessarily busts, but aren’t as good as advertised either?
Albert Almora was sort of good for one or two seasons, then cratered. That might not be the best comparison. Eloy Jimenez is another example.
hiflew;
Working backwards to 2000 as #1picks, with some still having a small chance to succeed for a bit at the ML level:
Henry Davis, C, Pirates
Spencer Torkelson, 3B, Tigers
Casey Mize, RHP, Tigers
Mickey Moniak, OF, Phillies
Brady Aiken, LHP, Astros
Mark Appel, RHP, Astros
Tim Beckham, SS, Rays
Luke Hochevar, RHP, Royals
Matt Bush, SS, Padres
Delmon Young, OF, Rays
Bryan Bullington, RHP, Pirates
Listed above are as many disappointments than some with levels of success since 2000.
Drafting in MLB is the hardest of the pro team sports.
These were #1 picks in the entire draft.
If we go through the drafts of all 30 teams the list will be well into the hundreds.
Matt Wieters was top overall prospect for a year and had a very mediocre career. 18 total WAR and a couple gold gloves. I’m not sure if these guys were ever #1 prospects but Jo Adell, Robles, Benintendi are all kinda mediocre major leaguers relative to their top prospect hype.
Buxton and Heyward aren’t even close to busts but didn’t wind up being the princes that were promised.
That era of international signings before the bonus pool cap was crazy. Tons of 6 figure bonus busts.
Was Miguel Sano a bust?
In those years, a lot of that was just being a weak class, and less on the variance. In the 11 years you mentioned, there were only 4 guys out of a possible 55 that were difference-makers.
Yoan Moncada wasn’t drafted. He was signed as an international free agent so despite this being true, it doesn’t apply to the original comment at all.
They would buy out his contract even if he had a season like Arson or Ohtani.
For real! He was a god as a Red Sox prospect. I’m not a fan of either Sox team but I remember seeing the Sale trade and thinking the Red Sox got absolutely fleeced for Yoan and Kopech.
Obviously that was a bad take lol
When healthy, he flashed MVP potential with his plus plus glove and plate discipline. Alas injuries robbed him in his prime. He also got hit pretty hard by Covid.
Yes, Covid did hit him hard. Remember him on the dugout bench after scoring all the way from first? Rickie Renteria had to fan him with a towel to help him get his breath and recover from the exertion. It seemed like he never really got over it.
Not that bad a take to be honest. The White Sox got a little bit more out of the deal than Boston did since Sale was injured the majority of his time there even though he was great when healthy.
It was kind of a win-win deal Really fascinating even after the fact, but extremely fascinating at the time.
Sale’s WAR in Boston = 17.1
Moncada in Chicago = 14.7,
Kopech in Chicago = 4.8
Chicago was awful in 2024, but they did have a little success after the deal. I’d say the White Sox did about as well as they could have in dealing Sale.
Well reasoned, thanks for sharing the WAR breakdown. Expect Kopech’s WAR to shoot up even more, especially if the Dodgers place him back in the rotation. Of all the ex-sox pitchers flying around out there this postseason (Rodon, Cease, Quintana, Kahnle, Hill) he has the most upside
It’s hard for me to get past the mental block of the saddest team ever (2024 White Sox) but yeah for a minute there it really did look like the future was pretty bright on the southside. Yoan, Eloy, LuBob, Vaughn, Madrigal etc in the pipeline but most everybody didn’t hit their ceilings. They made a lot of bad decisions too, like letting Rodon go for nothing.
Thanks for sharing. Interesting player and transaction for sure.
I think people forget that, only three years ago, the WS were a real team.
On offense, Grandal, Abreu, Madrigal, TA, Moncada, Vaughn, Robert & Eloy. That’s 8 guys, and 6 were pretty young.
The rotation was Cease, Giolito, Rodon, Lynn and Kopech/Crochet (at times), and 4 of those guys were young. And Reynaldo Lopez?
That should’ve been a good 5-year stretch finishing 1st and looking at a possible WS.
Yeah I don’t think I have EVER seen a team go from hot young rising club to godawful so quickly. And it’s not like they came out of nowhere like the 2023 Marlins. These White Sox were supposed to be dominating the AL Central for years. This is why complete rebuilds don’t always work though. It doesn’t turn into the Astros every time just because you want it to.
Now he plays like he’s in his mid forties.
Gotta love those disastrous contracts
Teams need to smarten up
He looks like he’s probably the blue jays 3rd baseman next year.
The only real option that I see for Moncada is showcase himself in the upcoming International Baseball Tournament(Cuba will play in Asia), and find to sign for at least 3 years for any team of Japan, Korea or Taiwan.
Sorry, but is almost impossible that any mlb team take a risk with him after his last 3 seasons.
Not so long ago that Moncada was Machado 2.0
Moncada/Jimenez have changed the landscape and damaged several potential young Dominican and Cuban players going forward. They are now the prime example of why not to give long term contracts to players with plenty of ARB years left. They went from scrapping and working hard to 2lbs gold chains, unbuttoned jerseys and laughing in the dugout after losing 10 in a row.
Pirates should kick tires on this guy since Hayes’ playing days are probably over.
Bro needs to go to Japan