The Angels continue to stockpile former White Sox infielders.
Their latest move was announced on Thursday when third baseman Yoan Moncada agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal. The Cuban effectively joins shortstop Tim Anderson and utilityman Yolmer Sanchez, who have also landed in the organization on minor-league deals.
Moncada, 29, became a free agent this past offseason after the White Sox declined his $25 million option for 2025, 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 at the time, though he would never reach those heights again.
Like many of the White Sox’s previous “core” pieces, Moncada struggled with injuries 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’s market was expected to be impacted by Alex Bregman and include “more than five teams,” according to a previous report from Romero. With Bregman still holding out for a lucrative long-term deal, Moncada now has a new home with Spring Training a week away.
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