After eight years on the South Side, veteran third baseman Yoán Moncada has found a new home with the Los Angeles Angels. Moncada, who had his $25 million club option declined by the White Sox, will join the Angels on a one-year, $5 million deal.
Yoan Moncada to Angels. $5M. Could be good spot for Moncada under Ron Washington
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 7, 2025
Going into his age-30 season, Yoán Moncada was among the top free-agent third basemen available, drawing interest from several teams. While injuries limited the former top-five prospect to just 12 games in 2024, he gave Chicago reliable middle-of-the-order production throughout his eight-year tenure. Moncada was seen as a generational, five-tool talent and was a highly sought-after Cuban free agent before signing with the Red Sox in 2015. He made his major league debut as the seventh-best prospect in baseball in 2016, going 4-for-19 over eight games. Boston then traded the young slugger to Chicago that December in a blockbuster trade for left-hander Chris Sale.
Angels Sign Veteran Third Baseman Yoán Moncada
Moncada’s breakout campaign came in 2019, hitting .315/.367/.548 (139 wRC+) with a 5.2 fWAR in 132 games. Chicago rewarded him with a five-year, $70 million extension, including a club option ahead of the 2020 season. But he has struggled to replicate that same, breakout success. Not uncommon for many of the “core” White Sox players, Moncada has battled multiple injuries over the past few seasons. He missed 58 games with leg, foot, and oblique injuries in 2022, while a back injury limited him to just 92 games the following season. Despite suffering a near season-ending adductor strain, Moncada slashed .275/.356/.400 in his fewest games since his MLB debut.
When healthy, the veteran third baseman has proved to be an elite defender and a reliable middle-of-the-order bat. Moncada has consistently had exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit percentages well above the league average. He now joins manager Ron Washington, who helped develop much of the A’s young infield talent in the last decade. Moncada will reunite with Tim Anderson, and teammate-turned-coach Ryan Goins.
By signing the 29-year-old switch hitter, Los Angeles gains a power bat with the versatility to play both second and third base. Moncada’s presence will likely allow the Angels to shift their $245 million third baseman, Anthony Rendon, into a smaller role. Rendon has yet to play more than 58 games in a single season throughout his injury-plagued tenure in Los Angeles.
Main Photo Credits: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
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