White Sox Linked to Yoan Moncada, But Reunion Makes Little Sense

The White Sox may be eyeing a reunion with a familiar face as free agency unfolds.

According to baseball reporter Francys Romero, the White Sox are among several teams interested in free-agent third baseman Yoan Moncada. The other teams showing reported early interest included the Angels, Pirates, and Blue Jays. 

The report comes as something of a surprise, given that the White Sox recently added former two-time NPB MVP Munetaka Murakami to play first base, suddenly crowding the infield. Murakami’s arrival shifts Miguel Vargas into the primary role at third base, while Chase Meidroth is penciled in at second. 

That still leaves Lenyn Sosa—coming off the best offensive season of his career—without a clearly defined role in the infield.

Moncada spent eight seasons in Chicago, posting a respectable .757 OPS in a White Sox uniform and earning MVP votes in 2019 after hitting .315 with 25 home runs. Still, he failed to live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his top-prospect billing when the White Sox acquired him.

His White Sox tenure plagued by injuries and inconsistency. His first season with the Angels was much of the same. Moncada was limited to 84 games, owned a 26% strikeout rate, and finished the season with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. While he did walk at an 11% clip and hit the ball hard for much of the season, Sosa arguably provides more offensive upside. 

The 25-year-old Venezuelan hit .264, well above Moncada’s .234 mark. While he also struck out at a high rate and walked far less often, he made up for it by leading the team with 22 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 137 hits.

Moncada is also coming off a disastrous defensive season at the hot corner, posting a -13 Outs Above Average and committing nine errors. While he has previously shown the ability to be an above-average defender at third base, the White Sox have little need at the position, especially after Miguel Vargas proved to be more than capable defensively.

The White Sox could use some more veteran bats to offer some lineup protection. Murakami will be getting his first taste of big league pitching, and Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Meidroth have all yet to reach 500 career plate appearances.

However, Moncada is an odd fit for a team whose current most pressing needs are outfield help and pitching.