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According to ESPN Boston and other sources, the Boston Red Sox have agreed in principle to a deal with prized Cuban free-agent Yoan Moncada. Both parties still have details to work out, but all signs indicate a deal will be reached soon.
"We're still working out the language. It needs to be agreed to by all parties," Moncada's agent David Hastings told ESPN.com on Monday morning. "I'm anticipating we're going to be able to sign."
The 19-year old switch hitter is expected to get a $31.5 signing bonus, but the overall cost to the Red Sox will be closer to $63 million after paying a 100 percent tax for exceeding their international bonus money allotment.
The signing represents the second splash Boston has made in the international free-agent market since August, when they inked Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo to a record breaking 7-year, $72.5 million contract.
Moncada is listed at 6' 2" and 205 pounds according to Baseball-Reference.com. In 101 games over 2 seasons in Cuba, Moncada has hit .277/.388/.380 with 19 extra base hits and 28 runs batted in. He also owns 40 walks compared to just 69 strikeouts, and has stolen 21 bases.
He is listed as a second baseman, but in a private workout with the Red Sox two weeks ago, Moncada took grounders at second base, shortstop and third base, as well as took fly balls in the outfield.
Due to his young age and limited experience, it is almost a given that the young prospect will need at least a season and a half in the minors before making a debut with the big league club.
"This is a 19-year-old we're talking about. I would think they would want to put him in with players his own age rather than with big leaguers right off the bat," Hastings said. "They probably want him to get acclimated with people his own age, but that's not my call."
That time in the minors should allow some other situations to play themselves out on an already crowded Red Sox roster, and as of now it is not evident where Boston intends to play him.
The Red Sox had been rumored as one of the favorites to land Moncada, and not only were they able to get their man, but outbid the rival New York Yankees in the process.
"He's got a lot of ability and projects to be a quality player," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "I don't think anybody disagrees with the ability. I would doubt there's any disagreement on the scouting assessment of the player. It just comes down to how much money you were willing to commit."
Former Red Sox pitcher and fellow Cuban Luis Tiant reportedly had a part in landing Moncada.
“To me he looked like an intelligent kid, a good kid," Tiant said. “He wants to play. He’s a ballplayer. We talked, we took pictures, with him and his agent. Tall, good-looking kid. He looks like a good person."
“Luis Tiant is a great ambassador for the Red Sox," Hastings said Monday. “I don’t speak Spanish, so I don’t have a clue what they were talking about, but they struck up a pretty good friendship. And Luis stayed in the dugout almost the whole time, even though it was a cold and windy day."
The Dodgers, Cubs, Rangers, Padres, Giants, Tigers, Braves, Brewers, Rays and Angels were also rumored to have interest in the young infielder.
Check out Moncada's 3-4 performance from the 2013 18U Baseball World Cup:
