Former White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada has ended his stint in the Puerto Rican Winter League after taking a foul ball off his right foot on Sunday. According to a post from MLB insider Francys Romero, Moncada and his agency would like to avoid further injuries as his interest from potential teams has increased.
Moncada, 29, recently became a free agent after the White Sox declined his $25 million option for the 2025 campaign, ending his polarizing tenure on the South Side. In eight seasons, the former top prospect slashed .254/.332/.425 with a 107 wRC+ and 14.0 fWAR. Moncada’s best stretch came in 2019, where he hit .315/.367/.548 with a 139 wRC+, 5.2 fWAR, and 25 homers in 132 games. It helped earn him a five-year, $70M contract extension that offseason, though he would never reach those heights again.
Like many of the White Sox “core” pieces, Moncada has struggled with injuries as of late and appeared in just 12 games in 2024. Even after he returned to full health in September, interim manager Grady Sizemore made it known that younger players who factored into the team’s long-term plans would be given priority at third base. It was a disappointing end to a clear story of “what if” with Moncada, even though he was an above-average hitter and defender at full health.
Despite the recent negatives, Moncada is reportedly being considered by “more than five teams,” according to a previous report from Romero. The Yankees, Blue Jays, and Mariners are among those who have kept an eye on him this offseason. It’s unclear if a deal with any of the aforementioned teams is clear, though Romero noted in his latest post that Moncada “could reach an agreement with an MLB team in the coming days.”
Moncada’s success when healthy, especially by way of his defense, should lead to continued interest over the coming weeks. As rumors continue circulating, we’ll monitor the situation and provide further updates.
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Can’t believe anyone would sign him for more than the league minimum for one year.