Infielder Yoán Moncada is currently a free agent after playing out a one year, $5MM deal with the Angels. He was an above-average hitter in 84 games in 2025 but missed time due to right thumb and right knee injuries. According to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, several teams have expressed early interest in signing Moncada, including the Angels, Pirates, White Sox, and Blue Jays.
The 30-year-old originally signed with the Red Sox out of Cuba for a $31.5MM bonus in February 2015. He made his debut late in 2016 before being traded to the White Sox as their key return for Chris Sale. Moncada had a 105 wRC+ in 231 plate appearances in 2017 but fell below average in his first full season in 2018. He broke out in 2019 with a .315/.367/.548 batting line in 559 PA, along with 25 home runs. Granted, the ball was juiced that year, but Moncada’s output was still 39% better than average by wRC+. The White Sox were confident enough to give him a five-year, $70MM extension in March 2020, which covered the 2020-24 seasons and contained a club option for 2025.
Moncada slumped during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, posting a 94 wRC+ while seeing a drop in power and spending two weeks on the injured list. He rebounded in 2021 with a line of .263/.375/.412 and a 120 wRC+. The power wasn’t quite back to his 2019 levels, though he looked like a more mature hitter overall, dropping his strikeout rate to 25.5% while posting a career-best 13.6% walk rate.
Unfortunately, Moncada has struggled with injuries and inconsistency ever since. From 2022-24, he batted .236/.291/.387 with an 88 wRC+ while playing in just 206 out of 486 possible games. In 2024, he spent most of the season on the 60-day IL with a left abductor strain, making just 45 plate appearances with a 118 wRC+. After the season, the club declined their $25MM club option on Moncada in lieu of a $5MM buyout, making him a free agent.
This year with the Angels, he had a 117 wRC+ in 289 PA over 84 games. His strikeout rate of 26.0% was high, while his 11.1% walk rate was better than average. His .214 ISO was his highest since his 2019 breakout season, as was his .448 slugging percentage. Although he is nominally a switch-hitter, most of his damage came as a lefty facing right-handed pitching. He posted 125 wRC+ in 262 PA against righties, but just a 37 wRC+ in 27 PA against southpaws. Meanwhile, both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average saw Moncada as a liability at third base. His -13 OAA was worst in the league among third baseman with at least 300 defensive innings.
Altogether, Moncada showed above average offense but was weighed down by injuries and newfound defensive struggles. As a free agent, he is more or less in the same position as last offseason, with a one-year deal being his most likely outcome. The current market has Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez as the top options at third base. Kazuma Okamoto is still available, with his posting window closing on January 4. The next-best options after that are utility players, so teams needing an everyday third baseman could look to Moncada as a low-cost flier.
Among the clubs with reported interest, the Angels might be the best fit. Anthony Rendon is expected to retire after an injury-riddled tenure in Los Angeles. After Moncada, Luis Rengifo got the most time at the hot corner in 2025, though he is a now a free agent. The club acquired infielder Vaughn Grissom from the Red Sox earlier this month, and he has not played third base in his big-league career. Another one-year deal with Moncada would fill the third-base vacancy and set Grissom up to compete for second base time, where the incumbent Christian Moore was unimpressive offensively in 2025.
Looking at the Pirates, the team traded Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Reds in July and saw Isiah Kiner-Falefa claimed by the Blue Jays in August. Jared Triolo played 260 1/3 innings at the hot corner, but he is more of a multi-positional player and did not hit as well as Moncada. The club is interested in signing Okamoto, but Moncada could be a fallback option for them.
The White Sox recently signed Munetaka Murakami to play first base and have Miguel Vargas as the projected starter at third. Moncada would be an offensive upgrade over Vargas if the club limits his exposure to left-handed pitching. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are known to be interested in signing Bregman. Ernie Clement and Addison Barger are already on the roster if he signs elsewhere. Both are average hitters, while Clement is an excellent defender at third (11 DRS in 2025), so they are a more curious fit for Moncada.
Photo courtesy of Steven Bisig, Imagn Images
.234 BA with 12hrs is above average now? Says who?
Baseball Reference says so. OPS+ of 116 the last two years and a career OPS+ of 107. Both better than the average hitter.
When he plays he’s a decent hitter. The “when” is the problem, not the bat.
Reggie
True for 2025.
In 2024, for the whole year, he was 11 for 45 with no homers. OPS+ is usually a useful statistic, but not for Moncada in 2024.
Likewise we cant say only 12 HR in 2025 with only 289 AB..
LFG, I agree with you in that we over emphasize saberstats. While it’s technically true that hard on the criteria utilized, person A might be 21% better than the composite average person, when did we’ve become satisfied with mediocrity? I’d rather focus on projections for 26 due to a return from injuries, the ability to listen and learn etc. It’s all a crapshoot but 240 average with 15 homers might be acceptable or even considered great for a catcher who is great behind the dish, it’s waiver like for the DH only who can’t play in the field.
Dewey – “I’d rather focus on projections for 26…”
Projections are rarely correct and are based on nothing but speculation. You’re right, a good defensive catcher batting .240 and 15 homers would be considered good…for a catcher. But Moncada is not a catcher. More is expected from his bat.
The problem is that for the Angels, a guy batting .234 is a star these days. The Angels have accepted mediocrity as their new normal.
prov
“Projections are rarely correct and are based on nothing but speculation”
100% wrong.
It’s your statement that is based purely on speculation.
Source: FanGraphs share.google/iyWvVTX0Oh6035XNK
There’s some evidence for
Where’s your evidence against
Juan – My simple response is unless you can look into the future, any projections of future performance are based on speculation.
So, I’m correct
You have no idea what you’re talking about.
Thank you for affirming.
Did you even look at the evidence for projections? Or are you just satisfied with being wrong?
Juan – Seems like you’re satisfied with being a jerk so maybe chill a bit. By definition projections are based on speculation.
prov
This is your statement
“Projections are rarely correct and are based on nothing but speculation”
Provide your evidence to support it
Or admit that you don’t know what you’re talking about
I’ve supported my position
Support yours
You can’t. Because you are just making things up and pretending that they are correct
MLB top
“OPS+ is usually a useful statistic, but not for Moncada in 2024”
OPS+ is as accurate for Moncada in 2024 as it is for any player in any season.
It’s as accurate as saying that his OBP was .356 in 2014
@Juan I would recommend that you read your own article. They are talking about how a small portion of players met their projections over a percentage of a season, 12years ago. Not exactly a smoking gun.
If you need a reference, here is what speculation means. It means making a guess without knowing the answer. And as was said earlier, you can’t know the future.
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/specul…
Most projections are based on past results, but assuming a result from past performance is speculative. Do you also need references to support the notion that the sky is blue on a clear day?
Fpb
“I would recommend that you read your own article. ”
AAhhh love the internet. [Redacted]
I don’t need to read the article because I, unlike you and Top 100, understand what projections are and aren’t.
What’s the probability of a coin landing on heads uf you flip it? Around 50%
So how many heads would you expect of you flip a coin 10 times? 5? Does that mean that if you get 6 heads, that your projection was wrong?
Hopefully you know enough to say, “of course not”.
Because projections don’t say, “this is exactly what is going to happen”.
If you flip a coin 10 times, the median expectation is 5 heads. With only a 25% probability of exactly 5 heads
Then a 20% probability of 4 or 6 heads
12% for 3 or 6
4% 2 or 8 heads
1% 1 or 9 heads
.01% 0 or 10 heads
So, again, do you think that a 50ish percent projection for a coin flip is “wrong”?
Concept checking question: how WOULD you know if your 50% projection was wrong? 🤔
@Juan The odds of a coin landing heads or tails is not dependent on previous results. Each flip stands on its own. Comparing baseball outcomes to coin flips is a stretch at best.
I do appreciate that you admit that you didn’t even fully read your reference article, while insultingly asking others to provide their own references. Had you read it, you wouldn’t have used it to support whatever point you were trying to make.
But why let facts stand in the way of a good argument? Ahhh, the Internet, indeed. Your will to insult and run around the facts has proven you to be the smartest person in the room. Congrats on that.
Happy New Year
fpb
I absolutely read the article. What are you talking about?
I don’t think I’m the smartest person in the room. I just think I understand what projections are and aren’t – unlike you and prov.
I’ll ask again, and fully expect that neither of you will answer
How would you go about showing that these types of projections are “wrong”?
Juan – As my and fpb’s comments have shown, projections are based on speculation by its own definition. And neither of us have said these types of projections are wrong. What I have said are projections (in general) are usually wrong because they are based on speculation. For example, all projections about Jo Adell were that he would be a superstar. He is nothing of the sort. For a broader non-baseball example, all projections were that tariffs would tank the economy. In reality the economy is soaring as shown by last week’s economic numbers.
So instead of twisting our words suggesting we said something we didn’t, why don’t you relax and know that we can agree to disagree. I have no idea why this means so much to you but whatever. Happy New Year and God Bless.
prov
“And neither of us have said these types of projections are wrong.”
“Projections are rarely correct”
“What I have said are projections (in general) are usually wrong”
“So instead of twisting our words suggesting we said something we didn’t,”
It’s very hard to have a conversation with some people
It is tough sometimes, especially when you start the conversation by insulting me. Cheers brother. It’s not that important. It’s okay if we disagree.
prov
Also hard when you come in swinging saying “projections are rarely correct” in response saying that they are looking at the projections.
Don’t try and play the victim, when you were the one making things confrontational from the beginning by spouting some nonsense about something that you don’t understand.
And then say that you never said what you obviously said
The other problem is that while he can make some spectacular plays in the field when he is on the move, he botches routine plays and doesn’t run well or hard when he is on the bases.
With a nickname like Yoyo, Moncada is going to string you along.
But up and down was right there.
Why did the yoyo cross the road?
It was walking the dog
Yawn Moncado
I agree with this statement.
Just keep Yoan Moncada as far a way from the Yankees as possible. Let him go anywhere else. Easy pass.
.234 is definitely above average for a Angels hitter
.234 is above average hitter with the Angels
#Banned
“234 BA with 12hrs is above average now? Says who?”
People who actually watch baseball and know that more happens than batting average and home runs. Quit looking at just ESPN’s stats page and actually watch a game.
@JuanUribeJazzHands is Myles Straw an above average baseball player?
Banned
“is Myles Straw an above average baseball player?”
Yes. Absolutely.
One of the top baseball players in the world. There are a few hundred better than him. And tens of thousands that are worse.
Did you mean to ask if he was an above average MLB player?
No. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t perform at an above average level for a period of time – perhaps even for a full season.
Any more questions, just ask.
Always happy to help out someone who wants to increase their understanding of baseball.
You are funny.
@LFGMets 12 HRs and 13 doubles in 289 ABs, if he would have played a full season it would have been about 25 HRs and 27 doubles. Add that he had decent OBP of .336 and SLG of .448 and you can see why he is above average, or at least could have been if he has stayed healthy all year.
💯
Yep.
He avoided getting out 7% better than the league average higher
And hit for power 10% better than the average hitter
Of course he was better than the average hitter overall.
That’s what happens when you just look at stats (batting average and home runs LOL) and don’t actually understand the game (or math, probably).
If Yoyo had played a full season, he would have faced a lot more of those LH pitchers he does nothing against. You can’t just increase a platoon level players ABs and say this is what a whole season would look like.
stymee
“You can’t just increase a platoon level players ABs and say this is what a whole season would look like.”
That’s not what they were doing
They were putting those stats on a full season basis you help out #banned who doesn’t seem to understand the concept of rates – since they just talked about 12 home runs without noting playing time in their attempt to say that Moncada was a below average hitter.
Fools that don’t know any better. He’s getting a hit less than one quarter of the times he’s at bat. That’s below standard in any reasonable metric.
Do
“Fools that don’t know any better. He’s getting a hit less than one quarter of the times he’s at bat. That’s below standard in any reasonable metric.”
Are you sure that you’re not the one being foolish?
First, the average hitter in baseball this year got a hit in less than a quarter of their times at bat – 24.5% of the time.
Second, we’re talking about being above or below average. Not “standard”, whatever that means.
Third, walks are a thing that exist and add offensive value
Fourth, doubles and triples exist and add offensive value
Watch a game. Don’t just look at ESPN’s stat sheet. Then you’ll see how much baseball is ignored by batting average and home runs.
Thanks for saving me the time to address Danny’s ill-researched post. If the league average is .2045, then it is impossible that is ‘below any reasonable standard’.
The rest of your post is spot-on, but Danny should focus on his math.
Says the average fastball now that’s thrown at 98 mph with velocity
LFG – For the Angels, a guy batting .234 is considered a star.
Vargas is on the rise.
@chisox378 I agree with you.
I don’t agree with: “Moncada would be an offensive upgrade over Vargas…”
I know the comment ends with “…if the club limits his exposure to left-handed pitching…” But Moncada is not a good player.
Even if Moncada was an offensive upgrade, it only matters if he can stay on the field, never mind that as hot and cold Vargas was last season, he still has a ceiling, Moncada fell off of his, pulled his groin muscle and will be on the 60 day IL again.
Agreed.
Moncada isnt ideal, but pirates really need a 3B if they miss on Okamoto, and the 3B market is thin.
*was about pirates but probably similar situation for other teams thin at 3B
It is far easier to simply write about past performance than it is to hypothesize on a young player’s potential.
If only The Cuban National Team was a Major League Team.
People don’t realize how good he is defensively. Excellent defender.
It’s all a shame.
Great another glove first infielder that can’t hit. There are 40 of them in triple a
Vargas is on the rise? You can’t be serious lol.
@jschwenn88 Do some homework.
Hes on the rise because he was one of the worst players in 24. 25 was ok but Im not sold on him.
Yeah he was hot and cold with the bat, but at least still has a ceiling..Hopefully the White Sox now have a hitting instructor that can actually instruct.
I don’t buy for a second that the Sox are interested in Moncada lol
Or the Jays.
Some team desperate for a bat vs. RHPs will snag him.
It’s just the agent trying to stir up interest in their client, shrug. I guess just try to remember which “insiders” repeat this stuff to know which ones are in the pockets of the agents
If the Sox do then Getz should be fired immediately.
The ONLY way I sign Moncada is performance and Injury clauses where he does not get paid if his is injured. Since that will never be allowed to happen because of the union, then he would not be signed by me.
I really hope the Pirates sign Okamoto .That could hopefully give them a chance to be a playoff team with their pitching staff and the Lowe and O’Hearn additions.
I agree big time.
But Okamoto and (a healthy) Moncada seem more similar then people think
At least from what ive heard both are below avg at 3B , <.260 , 20 HR potential
Okamoto has a little more breakout potential and would be more fun & marketable, but theyre not extremely far apart realistically
20 HR potential seems like a pretty generous stretch for Moncada. He’s done that once, 6 years ago. Maybe if he signs with the Yankees and manages to play a full season for them, Any other scenario I wouldn’t expect more than a dozen.
Well thats more the issue than anything is playing a full season.
How many half seasons has he played since 2019 and how many was he on pace for 20 HR in ?
Im not trying to glaze Moncada, but the guy does have decent power behind his swing.
2021 – 616 PAs, 14 HRs
2022 – 433 PAs, 12 HRs
2023 – 357 PAs, 11 HRs
2025 – 289 PAs, 12 HRs
So I would say once for sure (’25), and *maybe* another in ’23?
And don’t get me wrong, I hear you. He seems like the kind of guy who can give you some professional AB’s in a “break in case of emergency” situation and might provide some nice value in that kind of role for somebody. I just wouldn’t want to count on trying to squeeze more than a month or two out of him. You don’t hear of too many guys who suddenly stop struggling with being injury prone on the other side of age 30.
Can’t hit and has little power, would fit right in with the Pirates. Older version of Hayes without the defense
On pace for close to 20 HR last year
Moncada is decent. Just injury prone and fat
Moncada is not decent. He is a walking injury. Any club crazy enough to sign him will regret it day 1… when he injures himself coming out of the dugout.
Getting injured does not equate to not being good.
Not quite a fit with the Pirates. Their usual group of no-nothing, below average hitters usually play stellar defense. Moncada does not
This is one of slowest and boring off seasons in recent memory for me.
With all the bodies left on the board it’s bound to have a frenzied finish though.
This exactly the same as every off season. Your apparent need for instant gratification is the issue.
There’s been worse offseasons not all that long ago.
At least theres been moderate trade activity. Not massive blockbusters – yet – but it hasn’t been a total snoozefest.
I think you’ve got more movement on the infield candidates after that posting window ends around, what, the 5th? Then teams hoping to save prospects or money on a corner infielder start to re-engage.
It doesnt help that many of the more interesting talent this offseason is repped by boras who is notorious for slow-walking things. Just be thankful the boras-puns and alliteration have been far fewer in frequency than usual – or at least, reporting on the has
The lockout offseason before 2022 was neat. Other than the looming threat of games being canceled, the transaction periods before and immediately after were insanely compelling.
Moncada never lived up to the hype.
Haha its almost like hes a different person from the ultra athletic SS the red sox signed way back
I don’t see why the white sox would need him now?
Agreed. I don’t see the reunion either
“He was an above-average hitter in 84 games in 2025 but missed time due to right thumb and right knee injuries” was the second sentence of the article
i was trying to reply to another comment but this is still a fun fact
Predicting that Okamoto signs in next 24 hours, hoping with the pirates.
Probably wont hear anything until the 4th or 5th
He had a good year in 2019
That was about it
Excellent year in 2019, very good year in 2021 imo
I liked Moncada last year on the angels. Does it matter who plays third, when you are a 4.3 team
Sure would love to see Grayson have a big year.
Denzel Guzman can field, put him at third.
Grayson hasn’t pitched since July of 24. If healthy he most likely won’t go past about 75 innings.
What’s a 4.3 team ??
As a huge Angels fan. I’m sick and tired of Grayson this and Grayson that Angels fans are acting like he is our savior. He is a typical Moronassian move A player that once had potential and either inconsistent or injuries derailed the player. But the mighty Los Angeles Angels are gonna save this players career. They’re gonna fix it.
I’m guessing a 4th or 3rd place team within their division but my mind reading skills ain’t the best……. calling gold masters, come in gold masters, where are you???
Assumes
That’s a good guess! I did not think of that because I still see Anaheim as a last place team, rightly or wrongly.
It’s a new defense the angels will deploy this year that is going to turn the baseball world upside down
Creative response on a football day.
Ignoring the pitcher and catcher, most teams have 4 infielders and 3 outfielders.
Now if the defense has one of those players rush the plate, ratings will go up.
I think Moncada has talent. He would be pretty darn good if he stayed healthy. He made some good plays and liked his bat.
Over 30 and best years behind him? The Angels love overpaying this kind of guy. If he doesn’t care about playing for a winner, he can get that one big last contract and coast out the rest of his career in Anaheim.
Pirates do need a Third Baseman
How have they not signed him already ? They are spending money, looking for bats, and have the need. They may have made him an offer and he Yoan’d at it 😆
Bring Yoyo back to the South Side. Still have his jerseys in the closet!
They could, and he would not be there for long, he’ll probably slip coming out of the dugout opening day, twist his ankle, and be out for 60+ days.
No way!
Play the kids!
Stability at 3rd, tightens IF defense, improves pitcher confidence. Sell high on Lenyn!
The only stability to Moncada’s game is that he will spend half the season on the IL.
Since Moncada stopped playing full-time in ’22, he has an OPS+ of 95 while appearing in 45% of his team’s games.
Could be that is all due to whatever ailments kept him out of the line-up but, if his bat has disappeared against lefties and he can’t play defense, I hope this is a bet the Jays don’t make.
I would love the M’s to sign Okamoto, but they seem to want to give Williamson a legit shot. Moncada might be a decent low cost pickup to hit vs RH pitching, Perry Hill will be able to get the most out of him defensively.
A guy could be 84 years old with one leg and 2 amputated arms and the Jays would be interested in him lol
Put Moncada in RF and let him stay healthy for an entire season… let’s see what he can do.
LOL.. Sure being in the OF will keep him healthy..
He’ll hurt himself coming out of the dugout and be on the IL 60+ days.
Any team that would pay that guy to be mediocre and on the IL deserves him, and it should get a GM fired in Chicago. Then again, with Miser Jerry who knows.
Why are you insecure clowns so obnoxious?
He’s either in Anaheim or Pittsburgh. Be lucky to get another 5m. White Sox are 71-91 next season. Better than Pirates. Not that it matters. They stuck rule 4 gold last season. Better hope the import can learn to hit a mlb fastball.
White Sox not gonna be better than the Pirates Bub
You mean the Angels are actually interested in a free agent oh it’s Yoán Moncada
It’s not even spring training, Arte’s Angels organization already waving the white flag
They’re “interested” in Yoán Moncada. So are the White Sox, Pirates, and Blue Jays. But honestly—who cares?
This team’s got more holes than a busted lawn chair. Third base? Bullpen? Outfield? Cross your fingers. If the starters stay healthy, maybe we flirt with above .500. If they don’t? Hello, 90 losses.
Arte’s not spending. The front office is bargain hunting. And fans? We’re stuck watching the rerun of last year
At least with such low expectations, we will be happy with any wins.
Barger & Clement are both better than Moncada. As a Jays fan, I would rather have either one of those two at third than Moncada.
Id rather have Joe Crede come out of retirement to play third.
Ryan Reynolds gif from Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. But Why?
He’s the fallback guy for anyone interested. Glove was atrocious at times last year, usually at a crucial time in a game.
But he did drive the ball well the half year he played.
Luis Urias may be a better option than Moncada.
Moncada is a run-of-the-mill second-division scrub. He had one very good season seven years ago when the ball was juiced, another good season five years ago and has pretty much stunk ever since. He’ll be signed for two million by some crappy team (if he doesn’t end up in the KBO), and make fewer than 300 plate appearances due to multiple IL stints, but post an OPS+ of 103, prompting the stats nerds to extrapolate his numbers, insist that he’s an above average player and ridicule the baseball knowledge of anyone who disagrees with them. If he’s so good I hope he ends up on your team.
To me, Moncada was a guy with immense talent, but I doubt he actually tried to get better… That would also explain the large amount of soft tissue injuries he has had over time.
Stat nerd here
He’s a better than average player when he plays
He doesn’t play much due to injury
Are we in disagreement about something?
White Sox got smoked on that trade
Will probably get a similar type deal for 2026, 3B D decline was steep. Still productive, coulda been trying to play through pain that caused the subpar defense. Would add the Red Sox, DBacks and Tigers to that list of potential landing spots.
LaRussa batted Moncado 2nd in 22 with a ,195 average until he had a few good games against September call ups. Bat him 8th.
Teams that aren’t making the playoffs talking about a player that won’t help.
Clement and Barger are coming into their own so leave those players alone. While Bichette would be great, we were already winning without him to get to the show.
Nice to get both Tucker and Bichette, but I’m more and more into signing Tucker long term.
11 years with 14 with Vladdy we’re pushing for another WS. Maybe even a dynasty? If Clement & Barger keep improving, if Santander finds the baseball. There’s already a lot ready to go. Not everything needs upgrading
If we sign Bregman; ,,, Barger to RF, Clement to 2nd
If we sign Tucker; … Barger to 3B, Clement to 2nd/3rd
If we sign Bichette; … Barger to RF, Clement to 2nd/3rd
If we sign Tucker & Bichette; … Barger and/or Clement to 3B,
If we sign Bregman & Bichette; … Barger RF, Clement unclear
If we miss everyone; just don’t trade Barger and Clement
I like Barger alot. He’s gonna be a monster.
Please no reunion for Moncada on the Southside. Would just mess up what’s going on now. Im gonna predict a 75+ win season in 2026. Love to see B, Montgomery break camp if he deserves it.