There is a new suitor for Cuban teenage infield prospect Yoan Moncada on the horizon-the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are the third deep-pocketed team to show interest in the five-tool prospect, so the youngster may become a very rich man in a short while.
Source: #Dodgers aggressively pursued Yoan Lopez but came up short. Will now shift attention to OF Yoan Moncada. Expect a private workout.
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) January 13, 2015
Until now the main suitors for Moncada's services appeared to be the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, although the need for him is clearer in the Bronx than in Beantown.
New York just traded for 23-year-old shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Arizona Diamondbacks, but while he has promise and a slick glove he hasn't shown much at the plate in the big leagues. They also signed Stephen Drew, who hit under .200 last season, to potentially be a primary second baseman. Rob Refsnyder is waiting in the wings, but his glove may not be ready for primetime.
The path to playing time in Boston for Moncada would be unclear. The Sox signed an All-Star caliber shortstop this offseason in Hanley Ramirez but are likely shifting him to the outfield because of a glut of infielders. Pablo Sandoval is entrenched at the hot corner while Xander Bogaerts, one of MLB's top prospects, is going to be given a long leash at shortstop.
All this depends on when Moncada is deemed eligible to sign in the United States. Because of his age, and lack of five years of pro ball outside the U.S., he must be cleared by Office of Foreign Control and Asset by June 15. Because of past spending in the international pool the Yankees won't be able to go after him if he is cleared after June 15.
His upside has been compared to that of Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig by some scouts. "He's worth going way over your international spending pool, in my opinion," one scouting director told MLB.com. "This game is about talent and Moncada is the kind of talent worth the investment."
Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs also glowed about him after seeing a workout.
"Moncada is 19 and packs a lot of tools into his 6'1", 210-pound frame. He's a plus-plus runner with above-average raw power from both sides of the plate and the tools/skills to stick in the infield, possibly at shortstop. Moncada is the quick-twitch type with big bat speed that clubs covet, and his track record of hitting at big tournaments and in Cuba's professional leagues is excellent considering his age."
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