The Angels are in settlement with third baseman Yoán Moncada on a one-year, $5MM deal, studies Jon Heyman of The New York Put up. The deal is pending a bodily for the High quality Management Sports activities consumer. The Angels might want to create a 40-man roster spot as soon as the signing is finalized.
Moncada, 30 in Could, is in search of a rebound after a disappointing finish to his eight seasons with the White Sox. The previous high prospect had an up-and-down tenure in Chicago. He earned down-ballot MVP help throughout his greatest 12 months, a 2019 season through which he hit .315/.367/.548 with a career-high 25 dwelling runs. The Sox signed Moncada to a $70MM extension the next spring, believing he’d cemented himself as a core piece popping out of their rebuild.
That’s not how issues have performed out. Moncada slumped to a .225/.320/.385 displaying in 2020. That appeared like a short-season aberration the next 12 months, as he posted a powerful .263/.375/.412 slash throughout 144 video games. Moncada’s bat hit one other sharp decline thereafter. He mixed for a .234/.288/.386 line in practically 800 plate appearances over the subsequent two seasons. His ultimate 12 months in Chicago was tanked by harm. Moncada suffered a major left adductor (groin) pressure two weeks into the 12 months. He was instantly dominated out for 3-6 months. Moncada didn’t return to the lively roster till the center of September.
By that time, the White Sox have been taking part in out the string on the worst season in fashionable historical past. It was a foregone conclusion that they’d purchase Moncada out for $5MM as an alternative of a $25MM membership possibility. The Sox had little cause to place him again within the lineup. He solely made one look as a pinch-runner within the ultimate two weeks. His season ended with 12 video games and 45 plate appearances.
Moncada is now three years faraway from his final robust season. At his greatest, he has proven above-average energy and pace with a affected person offensive method. Moncada took walks at a wonderful 13.6% clip again in 2021. He takes a whole lot of referred to as strikes as properly, so he has punched out in 29.2% of his profession plate appearances. He’s a .254/.331/.424 hitter in additional than 3100 main league plate appearances.
After taking part in second base throughout his first two seasons, Moncada kicked to 3rd base in 2019. He hasn’t performed anyplace apart from the recent nook over the previous six years. That’ll very probably be his dwelling with the Halos. Normal supervisor Perry Minasian stated originally of the offseason that the Angels weren’t dedicated to giving that job again to Anthony Rendon. He’s probably headed to the bench as he enters the sixth season of his seven-year free agent deal. Luis Rengifo can take the vast majority of the taking part in time at second base, whereas the Halos acquired Jorge Soler to function their main designated hitter.
That is the Angels’ first transfer of consequence in months. They have been the league’s most lively staff within the offseason’s first few weeks. They pulled off the Soler commerce whereas signing Kyle Hendricks, Travis d’Arnaud and Yusei Kikuchi earlier than Thanksgiving. They’d not made a serious league free agent pickup since finalizing the Kikuchi deal. They’ve added a number of veteran infielders on minor league contracts, together with Moncada’s longtime Sox teammate Tim Anderson. With Zach Neto questionable for Opening Day following postseason shoulder surgical procedure, Anderson might compete with free agent signee Kevin Newman for the season-opening shortstop job. The Angels might have Moncada and Anderson on the left facet of their infield for not less than a number of weeks.
Moncada was additionally tied to the Blue Jays, Mariners and Cubs at factors this offseason. Francys Romero studies that the Cubs made a one-year provide price round $3MM. Moncada declined and got here out $2MM forward with the Angels. (Chicago has signed Jon Berti to function a multi-positional infielder and is prone to flip third base over to high prospect Matt Shaw.) This pushes the Angels payroll to roughly $193MM, as calculated by RosterResource. They’re at $210MM in luxurious tax commitments, a bit of greater than $30MM under the bottom threshold.
Picture courtesy of USA At the moment Sports activities.
