Red Sox Reportedly Land Yoan Moncada

Yoan Moncada has a home, as Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com has reported that the Cuban prospect will be signing with the Boston Red Sox for something in the $30 million range. Of course, that price automatically doubles, since the Red Sox were already over their spending limit, incurring a 100% tax on the overage. Because they had already blown past their pool allocation, they’d already taken the hit of surrendering the right to sign international talents for more than $250,000 for each of the next two years, so the marginal cost of adding Moncada is lower to them that it would have been to a team that was pushed over their bonus limit by adding him.

Kiley McDaniel has covered Moncada in depth all winter; here’s a selection of his most recent post on him.

Moncada, 19, likely spends 1-2 years in the minors before settling in the big leagues at either second base, third base or center field, with the offensive upside of Yasiel Puig. For those wondering where Moncada would land on a top 100 prospects list, he’d be somewhere from 5-12 for me, with comparable talent to guys like Carlos Correa and Corey Seager, but with far less proven as Moncada hasn’t played in a game for a long time. That said, Moncada was a standout performer in nearly all of his international tournaments before leaving Cuba, so his hitting tools are expected to lead to big numbers.

With Dustin Pedroia already pushing Mookie Betts off second base, it seems unlikely that Boston will push Moncada to that position, given the long-term commitment they’ve made there. However, third base remains quite viable even after signing Pablo Sandoval, as it’s perfectly reasonable to think that Sandoval could shift to first base after a couple of years, opening up the position for Moncada in 2017 or so. Or, as Boston has shown this winter, they never think you can have too many outfielders, and perhaps Moncada will end up as a right fielder flanking country-mate Rusney Castillo.

They’ll figure out the fit when Moncada’s ready. This is the kind of talent that isn’t readily available, and so the Red Sox decided to invest in a high-end prospect. We’ll have more on the price and whether it makes sense — or whether others should have bid more — a bit later today, but for now, the Red Sox get to celebrate adding one of the game’s best prospects to their farm system.

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49 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
spencer00
11 years ago

Boston would have been over their pool anyway, straight cash

Spa City
11 years ago

If my understanding is correct, the Red Sox can still sign international players over $250k through July on this year. This might be a sign that they intend to load up on international signees before the $250k limit begins. There are still several intriguing players out there, and the Red Sox have nothing to lose but cash at this point (which is a thing they do not lack).

Phillies113
11 years ago

Great pickup for Boston, but man…where to put him? Their depth is incredible.

Then again, I suppose this is one of those “good problems to have” I keep hearing about.

Ben
11 years ago

As a Red Sox fan – great job, guys! Thought he was bound for New York or LA. Now go out and sign Yadier Alvarez, too!!!

Jonathan
11 years ago
Reply to  Ben

Yankees were my bet. No good reason for them not to have taken the risk.

fothead
11 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

No idea why the Yanks were so passive here. They have been passive on every cuban import since they got burned on Jose Contreras. Especially for a team that desperately needs youth and cant draft to save itself. Makes little sense to me.

Wags (@wags721)
11 years ago
Reply to  fothead

I keep saying that it looks like the Yankees are going up for sale soon.

Offseason 2016
11 years ago
Reply to  fothead

All of your free agent are mine.

Roger
11 years ago
Reply to  Ben

Alvarez can’t sign until July 2, at which point the Sox will be under restrictions. Players born after Sept 1, 1995, have to register with MLB by May to sign the following July. Alvarez was born after the date. Moncada was born a few months before.

George
11 years ago

I like how the positional logjam discussion has already come up – with Hanley, Victorino, Betts, Castillo, Nava, Craig, and JBJ, the Red Sox haven’t even decided what their OF will look like a month from now, let alone 2 years. They probably aren’t even thinking about it at this point. They acquired talent, and will let the rest play out.

DrBGiantsfan
11 years ago
Reply to  George

I get that talent is talent and you can never have too much, but at some point aren’t you paying an enormous price for a marginal upgrade as opposed to a team with a weak farm system?

Jonathan
11 years ago
Reply to  DrBGiantsfan

These things tend to sort themselves out in the short term, much less the long term.

There was a time, a few years ago, when people were wondering what the Sox would do with their glut of OF prospects (Kalish, Reddick, and Westmoreland). One busted, one got traded, and the other had a freak medical condition derail his career.

You don’t hope for it, but there’s nothing wrong with being prepared.

K
11 years ago
Reply to  DrBGiantsfan

Max Scherzer has a marginal positive impact over Jordan Zimmerman, but acquiring him allows the Nationals to trade a top-flight starter (Zimmerman) with only a marginal negative impact on team performance.

Talent is talent and you can never have too much.

Wags (@wags721)
11 years ago
Reply to  DrBGiantsfan

Trades can always be made.

Roger
11 years ago

Thoughts on where Moncada starts the season? The Sox low A affiliate is my local team. I hear Moncada looks ready for high A, but I’m hoping he spends some time in low A to knock the rust off and give me a chance to see him. He hasn’t played a pro game in over a year, so maybe?

Delusional Mets Fan
11 years ago

Can bookie metts play short?!?!

Jonathan
11 years ago

Hypothetically, it could be done. He was drafted as a SS.

It’s highly unlikely, but he could probably manage.

Phillies113
11 years ago

He can play a hybrid SS/2B. He’ll be positioned directly behind 2nd base in shallow center, and he has the range to cover the ground ordinarily covered by a SS and a 2B individually. This is huge, as it frees up the Red Sox to deploy another player somewhere on the field.

All in all, a good signing.

Paul Kasiński
11 years ago
Reply to  Phillies113

What?

Phillies113
11 years ago
Reply to  Paul Kasiński

I’m kidding.

Blueyay
11 years ago
Reply to  Paul Kasiński

What?

Phillies113
11 years ago
Reply to  Paul Kasiński

Lol

Blueyays
11 years ago
Reply to  Paul Kasiński

…What?

Spa City
11 years ago

I do not see why not. His only drawback is his arm strength. He is extremely quick, athletic, hard-working and intelligent. He should be able to adjust to playing short, and his range, sure-handedness and reaction-time should allow him to be at least average.

David Eckstein eked out an impressive career as a shortstop with fewer and less impressive “tools” than Mookie.

redsoxu571
11 years ago
Reply to  Spa City

The guys at what used to be firejoemorgan.com would probably quibble with your description of Eckstein’s career as “impressive”, haha.

Cory S.
11 years ago

He has no place right now, but he won’t be ready for a couple of years. So much could change by then–heck he might even flop.

DrBGiantsfan
11 years ago

Yep. Last year at this time the top MLB ready prospects were Jurickson Profar, Javier Baez, Gregory Polanco, Oscar Tavares and Dylan Bundy. There is not such thing as a can’t miss prospect!

DrBGiantsfan
11 years ago
Reply to  DrBGiantsfan

This was supposed to be a reply to Cory S.

Prace
11 years ago
Reply to  DrBGiantsfan

Profar had surgery (not a function of him being a prospect as all players are subject to it); Taveras was killed (also not a function of him being a prospect); Bundy had surgery (also not a function of him being a prospect); and Polanco showed some good signs in his plate discipline and base running. There is no such thing as a player who can 100% avoid injuries, but your list doesn’t really prove your supposed point.

Emcee Peepants
11 years ago

This is obviously a prelude to the Betts/Owens for Hamels trade since they can now afford to jettison a young, but vastly overrated 2B and virtual non-prospect SP for the ace to put them over the top. It’s been far too long since Boston has tasted a championship, so this move needs to be made ASAP to keep the fans happy.

(I promise I am not a Phillies fan)

PWR
11 years ago
Reply to  Emcee Peepants

you’re hilarious

Phillies113
11 years ago
Reply to  Emcee Peepants

I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Emcee Peepants
11 years ago
Reply to  Phillies113

A guy can dream, can’t he?

Troll Rating
11 years ago
Reply to  Emcee Peepants

2/10

redsoxu571
11 years ago
Reply to  Emcee Peepants

Gotta love a good ol’ troll.
As if Boston would surrender Betts AND Owens for Hamels (esp considering that they wouldn’t trade Betts for Hamels straight up).
As if Betts isn’t a legit good-looking player.
As if Owens isn’t a nice prospect.

Troll, tra-troll troll trollllllll,

Emcee Peepants
11 years ago
Reply to  redsoxu571

I thought my sarcasm was pretty obvious. That trade has zero percent chance of happening and rightfully so, as both Betts and Owens are excellent prospects. There were a bunch of tweets immediately after the news broke saying the Sox would be willing to part with more/better prospects in a Hamels trade now that they signed Moncada. I love a good bandwagon, so I thought I would jump on. I am indeed a Phillies fan and the actual completion of this trade would likely result in my ruining a perfectly good pair of pants.

everdiso
11 years ago

$60m for a kid who may or may not be ready to contribute in 2017 seems a wee bit rich.

but at least its just money, and doesn’t effect their cap situations at all unless they run into some kind of internal cap.

Jonathan
11 years ago
Reply to  everdiso

And we’re all surprised by your particular opinion on this matter.

everdiso
11 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

you forgot to log in as everdiso, Jonathan.

Jonathan
11 years ago
Reply to  everdiso

Huh?

everdiso
11 years ago
Reply to  everdiso

i feel like i’m in a dream.

Portal everdiso
11 years ago
Reply to  everdiso

Hey, it’s me!
Who are you?
Searching.
Target lost.
Please put me down!
Sleep mode activated.
Are you still there?
Malfunctioning.
Ow-wow-wow-wow!

Spa City
11 years ago

Nice move for the Red Sox. The debates about overcrowding at defensive positions are silliness for now. 2 years from now the Sox could be an entirely different team. Napoli, Papi, Victorino, Nava and Craig will be gone. Sandoval, Betts and Xander may be playing different positions. Who knows who might be traded or injured?

This move only costs cash (which they have) and the ability to sign expensive international players in the future. They can still sign international players through July 2nd, and there are still several interesting players remaining.

There is at least some marketing value in outbidding the rival Yankees (which presumably has some hard-to-quantify cash value). And there is a value for Red Sox Nation in adding to the excitement of the team. I know that is too vague to analyze, but surely there is a cash value of some kind in the hype/media attention.

redsoxu571
11 years ago
Reply to  Spa City

And this doesn’t even cost them the ability to sign the expensive international amateurs, as they had already surrendered that right for the next two years for prospects signed earlier this period.

James
11 years ago

Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela are equally talented minor league players for the NYY and they play the same positions. Moncada offered nothing more.

Emcee Peepants
11 years ago
Reply to  James

I’m sure you’re probably just trying to justify the Yanks failure to sign Moncado, but Pirela’s not even listed among their top 36 prospects and is described thusly: “25-year-old got a cup of coffee last year and may get more time this year, but he lacks impact tools; he’s an early-count contact hitter with below average power that can’t play shortstop and is just okay at second base, so most scouts have him as a 25th man type”.

Refsnyder is a little better but is still a 45 FV prospect and almost 5 years older than Moncado.

Clearly, neither is in the top 5-12 prospect range.

Rick Lancellotti
11 years ago

$30 is less than what I thought (even though I do realize that it was actually double that due to penalties).

Kiley McDaniel was predicting something around $40 when he was a guest on BP’s podcast a couple of weeks ago: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25536

joser
11 years ago

“country-mate”? What’s wrong with “compatriot”?

Iced Lettuced
11 years ago
Reply to  joser

He’s implying they’re more than just compatriots if you know what I mean.