Yoan Moncada (29), a Cuban infielder with 93 home runs in the Major League, has been released as an official FA. Attention is focusing on his next destination for Moncada, who participated in an exhibition match held in Korea as a member of the Cuban national team.
The Chicago White Sox announced on the 2nd (Korea Standard Time) that they will give up the club option of $25 million for Moncada next year. In March 2020, the five-year, $70 million extension contract signed between the White Sox and Moncada was terminated. As the club option was not implemented, Moncada received a $5 million buyout amount and qualified as an FA.
Moncada is currently in Korea as a member of the WBSC Premier 12 Cuban national team. He started as a second batter and third baseman for two consecutive warm-up matches against South Korea held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 1st and 2nd. He had no hits and one strikeout in three at-bats, and one hit and one strikeout in three at-bats, respectively. He also showed good defense in clearing Yoon Dong-hee’s hitters in the second inning of the first game.
Moncada said in an official interview before the game on the 1st, “I haven’t received offers from Korean teams yet, but I want to play in the Asian League with Korea,” adding, “My physical condition has improved now. I can’t say 100% but I’ll keep recovering over time.”
Moncada was a high-priced player with an annual salary of 24.8 million U.S. dollars for the White Sox this year, worth about 34.2 billion won (30.2 million U.S. dollars) in Korean money. If he comes to Korea, this is the maximum annual salary that he can receive depending on the upper limit for a new foreign player. Although Moncada needs to significantly cut his ransom, his situation is not good enough to express his open mind to go to Korea.
Switcheshitter infielder Moncada, who was known as a top prospect in Cuba, signed a down payment of 31.5 million dollars with the Boston Red Sox in February 2015. At the time, Moncada showed interest in more than 10 clubs, and Boston was asked to pay a 100% luxury tax, exceeding the limit of its international amateur contract Bonus Pool. Moncada spent a whopping 63 million dollars on recruitment alone. He highly valued Moncada’s talent.
Since his Major League debut in September 2016, Moncada has played in only eight games for the Boston Red Sox. Moncada, who was traded to the White Sox along with Michael Kopech of the Los Angeles Dodgers in return for Chris Sale, posted a batting average of 254 (or 711 hits in 2,798 at-bats, 93 home runs, 339 RBIs, 376 runs, 306 walks, 918 strikeouts and a .331 slugging percentage of .424 OPS.756 in his nine seasons so far this year.
He signed a five-year, $70 million extension with the White Sox after his best season in 2019 with a batting average of 315 (161 hits in 511), 25 homers, 79 RBIs and an OPS.915. He contributed to the White Sox’s advance to the postseason with a batting average of 263 in 144 games (137 hits in 520), 14 homers, 61 RBIs and OPS.787, but has been on the decline for three consecutive years since 2022.
Due to the large and small injuries, he played in 104 games in 2022, 92 games last year, and 12 games this year. Due to sprains on his right abdominal muscle, strained hamstring, back inflammation, and sprains on his left adductor muscle, he sustained numerous injuries. At a game against the Cleveland Guardians on April 10, he hit a ground ball to the third base in the second inning and ran to the first base, before losing his adductor muscle for five months. He returned to the game against the Los Angeles Angels on September 17, but finished the season with a pinch-hit ball.
It was extremely unlikely that the White Sox would sign a 25-million-dollar contract with Moncada next year due to frequent injuries and poor performance. Moncada also joined the Cuban national team after the end of the season and started a showcase for re-employment.
Moncada told MLB.com on Sept. 21, “The injury definitely affected. I couldn’t show everything I could. But it wasn’t bad when I was healthy, and I’ve had a good career here,” adding, “I don’t know how other teams will see me, but I’m not worried about my future. I can play for a few more years. The most important thing is to stay healthy.”
Considering Moncada’s professional background and skills, KBO League teams should be interested in his performance. However, durability is the most important thing for a foreign player who has struggled with injuries for the past three consecutive years and the number of players in the 메이저놀이터 KBO League is limited. It is questionable whether there will be a team that can readily recruit Moncada.
