The White Sox on Thursday agreed with third baseman Yoan Moncada on a five-year, $70 million contract extension. The contract includes an option for a sixth year that could make the deal worth $90 million.
The news was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and MLB Network. The Sox have not formally announced the deal as yet, but I have always found Rosenthal's reporting to be quite credible.
Moncada would have become arbitration-eligible in 2021, and he would have hit free agency in 2024. This contract delays Moncada's free agency by two years. He would hit the open market at age 30, and presumably, this gives the Sox a better shot to get to the World Series and win sometime between now and 2025.
In 2019, Moncada had a breakout campaign in which he hit .315/.367/.548 with 25 home runs, 34 doubles, five triples and 79 RBIs. He also made a smooth transition from second base to third base, surprising many observers (including me) with his defensive competence.
If Moncada continues to perform at that level, getting him at $14 million a year is a steal. There have been rumors all spring of an extension, but most people were thinking eight or nine years, with a total value in excess of $100 million.
At this point, Moncada has played two full seasons in the majors, and he's had one rough year and one excellent year. There is risk involved for both sides, and but I'm guessing Moncada is more like the player he was in 2019 than the player he was in 2018.
If I'm proven correct, the Sox will come out ahead in this deal.
No comments:
Post a Comment