Yoan Moncada signs with Red Sox($30 Million)

[Corsi]

Gordon Edes ‏@GordonEdes  3m3 minutes ago
Moncada's agent, David Hastings, said "there's been no signed document..still working on language.but I anticipate we're going to [signb]''

 

[glennhoffmania]

@AndrewMarchand: There was a feeling from some that Moncada wanted to be a Yankee, team viewed it as too risky to spend a total of $60M-$70M for a prospect

 
They won't spend $60m for a top prospect but they'll spend $175m on Tanaka?  I think they need to upgrade their risk management department.

 

[smastroyin]

 
Prospects ranked in the 10-15 range by BA average around 10-15 WAR during their cost-controlled years. You can cherrypick the ones who don't but there are also some who generate more than that.

 
Cost control isn't free though.
 
Let's just play a quick game.  Let's say Moncada is worth (in 2015 dollars) $8, $12, $15, $20, $20, $25 million for this pre-FA years.  That's a total of $100 million in value for his six years.  
Now, he is going to make $500, $500, $500, $6, $12, $20 or so if he's that good.  That's a total of $39.5 million you have to pay him through arbitration.  So now you've paid $102.5 million for $100 million in production.
 
There are other considerations, of course, including the competitive balance tax considerations, and he may be worth more than what I've listed for get much more in arbitration.  And you have the chance to sign him before FA, etc. etc.  
 
I'm just saying, the penalty makes this far from a sure winner of a signing.  But, again, not my money, at all.  I'd be curious about what they really think they will get for value, though.

 

[soxhop411]

@NYDNHarper: Cashman: "You only have so much money to spend. We have massive financial commitments and when you make those you have to live with them.''

 

[Corsi]

Gordon Edes ‏@GordonEdes  23s23 seconds ago
Hastings said he doesn't know if Moncada reports to big league camp. "Not my call. This is 19 yr old kid. Prob want him with kids own age.

 

[In my lifetime]

The signing also highlights the long term problem of signing huge long term deals with older players. A few mistakes on those deals handicap even the big market teams when other opportunities become available. It was repeated often a few years ago that the Yankees had an unlimited budget. Every team and owner has budget constraints, just at different levels.

 

[Plympton91]

Total props to the front office and the ownership on this one. The line he put up as a 17 year old in the Cuban professional league is just ridiculously enticing. People keep comparing him to a #1 draft pick, but no draft pick has ever played against the level of competition this guy has played and excelled against.

You never have too much talent, and it's not my money. At the end of this year, Victorino and Napoli are free agents. There's no shortage of holes for him to fill, starting in 2016.

 

[mloyko54]

The best part about the Moncada situation is the 5 million dollars that separated the Yankees bid from the Red Sox is the same amount of money they're spending on Stephen Drew this year!! HAHAH

 

[koufax37]

Very happy to hear this despite the big dollars and the young age.
 
I think he is best served by staying at SS and starting in high-A and finishing in Portland, although I wouldn't mind him starting in Portland if they think he is ready.  If he needs to add any positional versatility it can come as an instructional league thing down the road, and not as a sign and switch, especially at his age.
 
He doesn't need to be rushed, so he can be a prospect for this year and next, and then see what 2017 has for him.  The great thing for us and for him is we are an organization and a roster that can handle allowing him to develop in the minors despite his contract, where others might not be so patient.

 

[bosockboy]

Leap frog Swihart on our prospect list?

 

[CoRP]

How long is he under Sox control for?

 

[Darnell's Son]

How long is he under Sox control for?

He's treated like a draft pick. So the Red Sox have 6 years of control at the MLB level.

 

[Darnell's Son]

Leap frog Swihart on our prospect list?

According to Baseball America, yes.
 
And Kiley McDaniel at Fangraphs.

 

[soxhop411]

@GordonEdes: Luis Tiant, Boston's Cuban legend, had beakfast with Moncada and watched his workout. "Luis Tiant is a great ambassador for Sox,'': Hastings

 

[chrisfont9]

Such great news... but you've covered that already. Some potential dominoes?
 
* Arguably this makes it a little easier to trade Devers. Not that the Sox need to or should want to, and future defensive positions are TBD, but if Cherington believes they need a left-handed ace STAT, such a deal involving Devers just got a little easier. Maybe Cecchini too?
 
* People are likening this to a #1(ish) draft pick. The Sox own the #7 pick, and the one direction they definitely do NOT have to go in is near-ML-ready talent on the infield. Ball's development might make them a little nervous about another high school arm here, though by June the trend lines could all be very strong. Anyway, seems like a no-brainer for the Sox to pick a pitcher if there's one deserving of a #7 spot on the board.
 
* Given Moncada's age, I would think the Sox would feel like they can keep him down for a while, at least 2 years if need be, maybe even into 2017. Granted he may hit his way to Boston, but by 2017 you'd have to think Ortiz is done, Napoli maybe let go (sniff), certainly Victorino gone, Craig either fixed or long gone, Panda moved over, Hanley nursing injuries, and the other pieces falling into place. Point is, it's not like he's 22 and knocking on the door, forcing near-term decisions at the ML roster level. 
 
That's all I can think of. Well, that and the Yankees being in complete disgrace.

 

[chrisfont9]

The best part about the Moncada situation is the 5 million dollars that separated the Yankees bid from the Red Sox is the same amount of money they're spending on Stephen Drew this year!! HAHAH

I think the Daily Show term for this experience is a Schaudenfreudegasm.

 

[soxhop411]

@ESPNNYYankees: To be clear, it's obvious Cashman wanted Moncada but it seems like he couldn't get Hal to go any higher

Lol

 

[bosockboy]

He's more or less their Papi replacement. Kudos to the FO by not wasting a rare opportunity to buy an overall top prospect type player.

 

[soxhop411]

Owners.

 

[OCD SS]

Such great news... but you've covered that already. Some potential dominoes?
 
* Arguably this makes it a little easier to trade Devers. Not that the Sox need to or should want to, and future defensive positions are TBD, but if Cherington believes they need a left-handed ace STAT, such a deal involving Devers just got a little easier. Maybe Cecchini too?

 
Between the Panda signing, the rest of the IF/OF depth, and his own limitations, Cecchini has looked like trade bait for awhile...

 

[chrisfont9]

 
Between the Panda signing, the rest of the IF/OF depth, and his own limitations, Cecchini has looked like trade bait for awhile...

Agree, if he's a starter-level player. He could stay with the Sox as a super-sub, in place of Holt, but that's it.

 

[Ed Hillel]

@ESPNNYYankees: To be clear, it's obvious Cashman wanted Moncada but it seems like he couldn't get Hal to go any higher

Lol

 
He needs to work more on his corner kicks.

 

[soxhop411]

I found something just as good as NYY fans


http://www.forums.mlb.com/discussions/New_York_Yankees/ml-yankees?

 

[Dahabenzapple2]

at least 15 pages of whining on the NYYFANS board
 
 
will make for nice afternoon reading if I have time......

 

[LahoudOrBillyC]

Like smastroyin, I am in the "its a lot of money, but not my money" camp.  Here's the thing though.  For a rich team like the Red Sox, I think it is clear that the payroll would be MUCH higher in a truly free market.  They spent $60 million or whatever on this guy because they are swimming in money and there are really no places to spend it.  They probably want to adhere to the payroll cap most of the time, they can't overspend on the draft anymore.  So spend it on the Cubans.  
 
In terms of aesthetics, I absolutely love that the Red Sox have so many athletes in the system, people who are not stuck at 1B or LF or DH forever.  Having players who can play in the middle of the diamond allows them to just say, "screw it, we'll out their positions later." 
 
This goes without saying, but this is by far the most international team the Red Sox have ever had and the system is just going to keep that going.  

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Cashman must love his job. I mean that in all seriousness. The guy skates on everything because of the Steinbrenner reputation. There's this perception that he is constantly fighting the good fight against his evil twin bosses. Every success is in spite of them and every failure results in a backdoor media blame game where he gets to coyly suggest that it was all out of his hands entirely. Maybe some or even a lot of that is true--there is such a weird dynamic in that FO that it's hard to know anything for sure.
 
I'd love to see him run a different team some day

 

[Rasputin]

I'm just giddy. I'm trying to figure out a way to keep all of Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Devers, Margot, Moncada, Swihart, and Castillo.

 

[ivanvamp]

Like smastroyin, I am in the "its a lot of money, but not my money" camp.  Here's the thing though.  For a rich team like the Red Sox, I think it is clear that the payroll would be MUCH higher in a truly free market.  They spent $60 million or whatever on this guy because they are swimming in money and there are really no places to spend it.  They probably want to adhere to the payroll cap most of the time, they can't overspend on the draft anymore.  So spend it on the Cubans.  
 
In terms of aesthetics, I absolutely love that the Red Sox have so many athletes in the system, people who are not stuck at 1B or LF or DH forever.  Having players who can play in the middle of the diamond allows them to just say, "screw it, we'll out their positions later." 
 
This goes without saying, but this is by far the most international team the Red Sox have ever had and the system is just going to keep that going.  

 
I think a lot of Spanish is going to be spoken in the Red Sox' organization.
 
Which is pretty cool, if you ask me.
 
Recent prospects that have made the majors (and played significantly, and are still there) the past 2 years:
- Bogaerts
- Betts
- Vazquez
- Workman
- Wilson
 
Top prospects on the cusp:
- Swihart
- Barnes
- Rodriguez
- Owens
- Cecchini
- Bradley
- Johnson
 
Top prospects at least a year away, but incredibly enticing:
- Moncada
- Margot
- Marrero
- Escobar
- Shaw
- Coyle
 
Other guys with potentially bright futures, but further away:
- Ball
- Devers
- Travis
- Kopech
- Chavis
- Guerra
- Rijo
- Stankiewicz
- Longhi
 
 
Has the Sox' system EVER been this deep at all levels, with this much top-tier talent?  Not that I can remember.

 

[PayrodsFirstClutchHit]

I'm just giddy. I'm trying to figure out a way to keep all of Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Devers, Margot, Moncada, Swihart, and Castillo.

 
Sox should look to create an NL version of the team.  Boston is overdue for two MLB teams anyway, 

 

[LahoudOrBillyC]

I think you need to add Rusney Castillo to the above (ivanvamp) list.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

He's more or less their Papi replacement. Kudos to the FO by not wasting a rare opportunity to buy an overall top prospect type player.

 
I would say that Panda or Hanley is the Papi replacement and Moncada moves into either 3B or LF.

 

[ivanvamp]

I think you need to add Rusney Castillo to the above list.

 
I thought about him but I'm not at all sure how to categorize him.  He's 27.  Not really a "prospect" by age, but because he's unproven I guess he is.  And he hasn't really been in the Sox' system.  He was essentially a free-agent signing directly to the majors.
 
But still, the point is taken - another quality guy the Sox have added.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

I'm just giddy. I'm trying to figure out a way to keep all of Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Devers, Margot, Moncada, Swihart, and Castillo.

Swihart- C
Devers- 1B
Betts- 2B
Bogaerts- SS
Moncada- 3B
Margot- LF
Bradley- CF
Castillo- RF

 

[MakMan44]

Hey look, an appropriate use of this emote!
mg-girl:
 
Seriously, this is awesome news. 

 

[caminante11]

 
 
 
Recent prospects that have made the majors (and played significantly, and are still there) the past 2 years:
- Bogaerts
- Betts
- Vazquez
- Workman
- Wilson

 
Alex Wilson was traded to the Tigers in the Cespedes deal (assuming you were limiting that list to those currently in the Red Sox system)

 

[ivanvamp]

 
Alex Wilson was traded to the Tigers in the Cespedes deal (assuming you were limiting that list to those currently in the Red Sox system)

 
Whoops!

 

[Rasputin]

Swihart- C
Devers- 1B
Betts- 2B
Bogaerts- SS
Moncada- 3B
Margot- LF
Bradley- CF
Castillo- RF

 
I also wanna keep Pedroia and Vazquez and Ramirez.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Amazing news. I honestly had all but resigned myself to the fact that he'd be a Yankee.

 

[bosockboy]

 
I would say that Panda or Hanley is the Papi replacement and Moncada moves into either 3B or LF.

Not by position but timing. Papi has probably two more years and then someone will move to DH.

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

Man, the farm is just LOADED with talent. I thought for sure the MFY were going to snag him. This is a great way to start the week. Bring on the season and can't wait to monitor this kid wherever he lands in minors.

 

[Rasputin]

I'm assuming they aren't going to send him to Greenville which means I'm kind of hoping they send him to Salem who just happens to be playing in Myrtle Beach the second series of the season. Also a series in early May.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Only thing that could make this better is if it was Mike Kensil who advised Hal to not bid any higher.

 

[JimD]

@NYDNHarper: Cashman: "You only have so much money to spend. We have massive financial commitments and when you make those you have to live with them.''

 
Love how he uses 'we' to refer to contracts he negotiated.  Did the Steinklevoss Twins force him to blow the market away when he signed Tanaka and Ellsbury?

 

[67WasBest]

Extremely pleased, and more than a little shocked with this great news.  Never thought the Sox would win the sweepstakes, and now that they have, I want to move to one of the minor league cities.  Going to be fun to watch all these kids mature.  Heck of a commitment, throwing down $63M for this kid.

 

[Harry Hooper]

@GordonEdes: Luis Tiant, Boston's Cuban legend, had beakfast with Moncada and watched his workout. "Luis Tiant is a great ambassador for Sox,'': Hastings

 
 
Kudos to HWL for erasing another Sullivan-LeRoux stain from the franchise.
 
 
NESN had Farrell's press conference on air, but nothing about this signing other than a crawl.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

So, does the bonus penalty have any significant effect other than cash out of the team's pocket?  In other words, does it have luxury tax implications in future years, beyond the salary/bonus paid to Moncada?  I understand it limits their bonus pool spending for the next two years, but what I'm wondering is about luxury tax implications of the second $30 million.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

NESN had Farrell's press conference on air, but nothing about this signing other than a crawl.

 
What else should NESN have about this?  Nothing's been officially announced yet.

 

[TheYaz67]

at least 15 pages of whining on the NYYFANS board
 
 
will make for nice afternoon reading if I have time......

 
"There are currently 931 users browsing this thread. (72 members and 859 guests)"
 
It seems many of us have the time to browse the anger and spite this has created at NYYFANS

 

[Darnell's Son]

So, does the bonus penalty have any significant effect other than cash out of the team's pocket?  In other words, does it have luxury tax implications in future years, beyond the salary/bonus paid to Moncada?  I understand it limits their bonus pool spending for the next two years, but what I'm wondering is about luxury tax implications of the second $30 million.

It doesn't affect the luxury tax. His affect on the luxury tax will be his pay when he makes it to the majors, and he'll be paid like any other promoted prospect.

 

[Harry Hooper]

 
What else should NESN have about this?  Nothing's been officially announced yet.

 
 
Just indicative of how NESN operates on autopilot with three hamsters pushing buttons. Morning piece with Caron and Abraham didn't mention Moncada either.