Sports

Red Sox Agree to Deal With Prized Cuban Prospect Yoan Moncada

Scott Cook Contributor
Font Size:

The Boston Red Sox announced Monday that they agreed to terms with 19-year-old Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada.

According to Moncada’s agent, David Hastings, nothing has been inked yet, but the two sides have agreed in principle to a $31.5 million contract.

The price the Red Sox will have to pay is double that — $63 million due to the fact that they have to pay a 100 percent penalty for exceeding the international spending limit.

The switch-hitting Moncada is a versatile player. He has been described by scouts as a younger, faster and more powerful Robinson Cano. The Red Sox organization expects to play him either at third base, second base or in left field.

Moncada’s addition will further improve a stacked Red Sox farm-system. The highly touted prospect is expected to spend a year or two in the minors before he reaches his Major League potential.

The Dodgers, Giants, Padres and Yankees were all serious contenders to land the teenage phenom, with the Yankees being the frontrunner. According to ESPN, the Yankees lost Moncada to the Red Sox because their bid of $25 million was not enough. (That’s a first!)

Moncada is the second Cuban player the Red Sox have signed in the past year. In August they signed center fielder Rusney Castillo to a six-year $72.5 million deal.