Top young Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada has established residence in Guatemala, where he will have a showcase November 12, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports. Evaluators from all 30 teams are expected to attend. Moncada is petitioning to become an MLB free agent. In June, Sanchez reported that Moncada had left Cuba through legal means.
Unlike many Cuban arrivals, the 19-year-old Moncada will be subject to MLB rules regarding MLB bonus pools. Sanchez notes that it’s not clear whether Moncada plans to sign in the current signing period or wait until next July 2. The Cubs and Rangers, who spent dramatically more than their bonus pools in the 2013-14 signing season, would not be allowed to sign him for more than $250K in the current signing period, while the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays will not be able to sign him for more than $300K starting next summer.
The young shortstop and third baseman has played alongside Jose Abreu, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Raisel Iglesias and other top Cuban players. Sanchez notes that scouts have described Moncada as “the next Jorge Soler.”
jays always need a good infeilder. unless we are believing aa has the vault in hand to fix the jays
I can see the Yankees going hard after this kid if he becomes available BEFORE June 15, 2015. Since the Yankees substantially exceeded their signing allotment they have nothing to lose by signing him before then. After that their penalty kicks in and they are not allowed sign any international player for more than $300K.
The phrasing in the article above seems nebulous, but it seems to be saying that your Yankees can’t go hard after him. It shouldn’t have been hard to clarify this, but clarity in writing has a way of evaporating when MLB rules are under discussion.
If he becomes a FA before june 15th he’d eligible to sign with the Yankees, Red Sox, and rays, after that date he can’t.
I’d like to learn more about his defense. But if he is the next Soler and can play average defense on the left side of the infield, there will be teams lined up for him.
He’s been rumored to be getting a contract near $100mm. I’ve heard him called the best player to come out of Cuba in a long time; i.e. better than Abreu, Puig, etc. because he can play SS
If the scouting reports are accurate, I hope he establishes free agency before July 2 so my Red Sox can take a stab at him
If the Red Sox get him, that would probably make him their 100th shortstop since the Nomar trade.
Not necessarily. He would start in the minors, meaning Bogaertz can hold down SS until he is ready. If Moncada pans out, you evaluate who has the better defense between the two, and use the other at the hole on the left side of the infield. Not that this will happen, I am simply stating that having that kind of talent is a good problem to have
I highly, highly doubt he will get a contract that huge since he’s subjected to the bonus pool limits. A 100 MM contract under the bonus pool restrictions would cost a substantial tax in addition to the 100 MM and the signing team would lose the ability to sign others for awhile. That’s an incredible risk to gamble on one player.
This has got to stop. The Cubans have to be part of an international draft. If the best players every year are signable for everyone it just defeats the whole purpose of a draft.
If you’re limiting these guys to slot bonuses, there’s a lot less of them taking the risk of leaving Cuba. It’s not any worse than the posting system. Large market teams have a huge advantage in baseball and it’s not going to change until we get a fair revenue sharing system.
Which is highly unlikely to happen.
MLB made $9 Billion this year. Why upset the teams making the majority of that revenue?
Upset the teams? It is what’s best for the game long-term. It’s not going to happen anytime soon, but it’s a huge advantage that you don’t find in any other sport.
And what teams are making a “majority ” of those $9 billion?
or you have a hard salary cap. The NFL and especially the NHL do quite well restricting the ability of big spending teams from dominating the market.
Please Mets, this could be the answer at SS
If he’ll agree to play for the minimum wage, I’m sure the Wilpons will be all over him.
lol thats sad but true
I’d love for the mets to sign him. The way his skills seem to be talked about, remind me of hanley ramirez(the 25 yr old version) and mike trout. Skillset like puig, more speed than rusney castillo and more power than yasmani tomas?!?!?! I’ll drop out of college and they can use the tuition money i saved to help sign this guy. But(thats one big BUT), don’t hold your breath. You think Jeff and Fred are going to be breaking the bank to sign this guy? Maybe if every met fan were to pray to every diety out there, threw change in every wishing well on the planet, and used up all their birthday wishes on signing this guy, then maybe, just MAYBE, we have a chance.
Man, the list of Cubans to join MLB keeps growing. It seems every month a new reliable option for MLB teams is establishing residency in a country outside Cuba and becoming available for teams to bid on. Jose Fernandez (the infielder), Yasmani Tomas, Yoan Moncada, Hector Olivera are all going to be able to be signed soon, then there’s Iglesias, Chapman, Castillo, Puig, Abreu, Soler, Cespedes, Leonys Martin, Arruebenerra (sp.), Guerrero, Despaigne, etc.
Another one? Pick’m up!!
Now this is a guy Preller should be looking at for the Padres. His skill set seems to fit Petco more than Tomas’.
White Sox. Sorry.
Think they’ll keep Viciedo around just so they can brag about all the Cubans already on the team? 🙂
Maybe. Sox can also trade Tank and still brag about all the Cuban’s present and future.
And past also.
Wasn’t really serious. I’m going to be disappointed if Viciedo is still around next year. If somebody offers a bag of balls, we need to make sure the ball count is right and they’re still in serviceable condition. Then I take the deal.
Red Sox.
Maybe the Brewers will take a look at him to be the future 3B or 1B. It was said the Brewers offered Jose Abreu upwards of 60mil so it isn’t like they are scared to gamble on the foreign market.
Though Abreu was MLB ready where this guy probably isn’t.
does anyone know where can you find out what teams have left for their bonus pool?
baseball america on the international page
How is there so much talent coming out of Cuba?!
Baseball is a huge part of Cuban culture; played by many and talked about all the time in many homes and any street corner or park. Every talented player who successfully escapes and manages to make his way to the majors (and of course, big bucks upon signing) just serves to inspire the next wave of talented hopefuls to attempt do the same.
Yup. Fidel Castro is actually a huge fan. I recently read that the story that he once played pro ball in the U.S. is a myth, though.
Yeah, he kind of encourages that myth. I am kind of curious to see if he puts something about that in the memoirs.
It turns out sugar is actually good for you.
‘Talent’ is relative. While these guys are big because of success from other Cuban players it does not mean they are all superstars, many are rough players, but play well enough to be in their league.
While you have Puig, Ramirez, and Abreu, you have others that are average at best, or at least not nearly worth what people are throwing at them. I think all are a roll of the dice considering their short, and relatively unknown, playing time.
‘Sanchez notes that scouts have described Moncada as “the next Jorge Soler.”’
Given that Soler has had only 89 AB in the majors, I’m not sure what to make of that comparison. Doesn’t seem to say much about what to expect from Moncada. Comparison with an established player would be more informative, don’t you think?
If you are aware of what is on the horizon for Soler and his potential, then the comparison isnt too difficult to grasp.
Yoan, Mr. Abreu on line 1. A-Ram on line 2. Tank Viciedo on line 3. Mr. Minoso on the white courtesy phone.
Does anyone know what his projected signing bonus is?
Considering the Top 5 BA International Infielders signed for an average bonus of $2,110,000…..I would assume his asking price would be in that $2m+ range.
Its gonna be tough for ANY team to sign him this late into the international FA time period.
Only 2+million??? Wouldnt teams disregard the IFA signing rules, take the hit for the next 2 years, and start a bidding war to sign him?
While that is most certainly a possibility, one has to remember that this system was put in place for the purpose of driving international prospect costs down to levels that are equal to traditional MLB drafted players.
At age 19 he’ll have to get some time in Advanced A ball at the very least. What if scouting reports are wrong and this guy flames out? Then you’ve handicapped your international signing abilities for 2 years and have to pay a 100% tax for every dollar over your allotted bonus slot
The reason I say $2+ is because the average of the Top 5 IF signing bonuses was just over $2m. The largest signing bonus given this season was by the Phillies which was $3.1m.
That along with the fact that many clubs have already burned through 50% or more of their respective international bonus pools keeps his costs down.
Thanks for the insight. My knowledge of the IFA market is somewhat limited. What teams do you think would be the most likely to sign him then, those with some slot money left and a need for a shortstop long term?
I can see the Yankees and Red Sox going hard after him since they are already over the 15% limit…..if they aren’t going to be able to sign anyone over $250k for the next 2 years…..they might as well make the most of this year.
The Mets have been very active in the IFA market and still have some slot money left.
The sneaky team for me would be the Cincinnati Reds. To my knowledge they still have their entire $2m+ pool remaining to spend.
If Moncada clears the June 15th deadline……I would say there is a 70% or greater that the Cubs grab him.
Nevermind….I guess Baldoquin just set the market for IFA’s with foreign league experience.
As a similar, older, Cuban born middle infielder, this contract will probably be closer to what Moncada will command.
The Angels’ bonus pool total for this year’s signing period is $2,383,700, and because they are expected to exceed the pool by more than 15%, the club will not be allowed to sign a player for more than $300,000 during the next two signing periods and will have to pay $5.5m in taxes to the MLB for the signing.
Can’t find a single thing in terms of a scouting report for Baldoquin though….
I really hope the mets take a shot at this kid. For any team who can remotely afford him, it really is an incredible investment. Say he gets 5 million at the most. They then have to kick 5 mil over to the MLB,(if they are already at the cap). and could theoretically spread out the signing bonus over the length of his contract. That’s pennies when you think about it.