Striker Yoan Moncada he is currently a free agent after playing on a one-year, $5MM deal with the Angels. He was an above-average hitter in 84 games in 2025 but missed time with right thumb and right knee injuries. According to Franchys Romero of Beisbol FR, several teams have expressed recent 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 in late 2016 before being traded to the White Sox as their significant return. 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 entered 2019 with a .315/.367/.548 batting line in 559 PA, and 25 home runs. Granted, the ball was juiced that year, but Moncada’s output was still 39% better than his wRC+ average. The White Sox were confident enough to offer him a five-year, $70MM extension in March 2020, which covers the 2020-24 seasons and contains a 2025 club option.
Moncada went down in a COVID-shortened 2020 season, posting a 94 wRC+ while seeing a decline in power and spending two weeks on the injured list. He rebounded in 2021 with a .263/.375/.412 line and a 120 wRC+. Power hasn’t quite returned to his 2019 levels, though he looked like a mature hitter, dropping his strikeout rate to 25.5% while posting a career-best 13.6% walk rate.
Unfortunately, Moncada has struggled with injuries and inconsistencies since then. From 2022-24, he hit .236/.291/.387 with an 88 wRC+ while playing in just 206 of a possible 486 games. In 2024, he spent most of the season in the IL for 60 days with a strained lefty, making 45 plate appearances with a 118 wRC+. After the season, the club declined the $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 26.0% strikeout rate was high, and his 11.1% walk rate was better than average. His .214 ISO was the highest since his 2019 debut season, along with his .448 slugging percentage. Although he is a switch hitter, most of his damage has come as a right to left throw. He posted a 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 the worst in the league among third baseman with at least 300 defensive innings.
Overall, Moncada showed above-average offense but was hampered by injuries and recent defensive struggles. As a free agent, he is in almost the same position as last season, with a one-year contract the most likely outcome. The current market has Alex Bregman again Eugenio Suarez as top options at third base. Kazuma Okamoto is still available, as his shipping window closes on January 4. The next best options after that are utility players, so teams in need of a third everyday player can look to Moncada as a cheap shot.
Among the clubs with reported interest, the Angels may be the most suitable. Anthony Rendon he is expected to retire after working hard in Los Angeles. After Moncada, Luis Rengifo he got more time at the hot corner in 2025, even though he is now a free agent. The team found a midfielder Vaughn Grissom off the Red Sox earlier this month, and has yet to play third base in his major league career. Another one-year deal with Moncada would fill the third spot and set Grissom up for a second, catcher’s stint. Christian Moore you were not impressed by 2025.
If we look at the Pirates, the team is trading It’s Bryan Hayes it turned red in July and saw Isiah Kiner-Falefa was claimed by the Blue Jays in August. Jared Triolo he pitched 260 1/3 innings at the hot corner, but he’s a multi-position player and didn’t hit in the same way as Moncada. The club is interested in signing Okamoto, but Moncada could be an option for them.
The White Sox recently signed Munetaka Murakami to play first base and be Miguel Vargas as the projected starter at third base. Moncada will be an offensive upgrade for Vargas if the club limits his exposure to left-handed drives. At the time, the Blue Jays were known to be interested in signing Bregman. Ernie Clement again Addison Barger they are already on the list if he signs elsewhere. Both are regular hitters, and Clement is a good third baseman (11 DRS in 2025), so they want to know more about Moncada.
Photo courtesy of Steven Bisig, Imagn Images
