Yoan Moncada’s eight-season tenure with the Chicago White Sox officially ended in October when the team opted to buy out his club option, making the 29-year-old infielder a free agent. Despite an injury-plagued stretch over the last three seasons, Moncada is reportedly attracting significant attention in the free-agent market. According to reporter Francys Romero, the Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams showing interest in acquiring Moncada’s services.
The Blue Jays have a pressing need at third base following a 2024 season that saw solid, but not spectacular, production from the position. Toronto’s third basemen combined for a 4.0 bWAR, with much of that coming from Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was traded midseason. Ernie Clement stepped up defensively in the latter half of the year but delivered a modest .263/.284/.408 slash line in 452 plate appearances. Behind Clement, Toronto has a mix of unproven players such as Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez, and Leo Jimenez, none of whom provide the same defensive reliability. This roster situation makes the Blue Jays active in exploring upgrades for their infield, with potential targets ranging from high-profile names like Alex Bregman, Willy Adames, and Ha-Seong Kim to lower-risk free agents like Moncada.
Moncada, however, presents a more uncertain gamble. Once a top prospect and the centerpiece of the blockbuster Chris Sale trade between the White Sox and the Red Sox in 2016, Moncada was regarded as a cornerstone talent. His standout 2019 season earned him a five-year, $70 million contract extension from the White Sox, and another strong showing in 2021 cemented his value as part of a division-winning team. But injuries have since derailed his career. Over the past three seasons, Moncada has managed to appear in just 208 of a possible 486 games due to a litany of physical setbacks, including back issues, hamstring injuries, an oblique strain, and an adductor injury that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2024.
When Moncada did play in 2024, he was limited to 12 games, and his overall production has taken a noticeable hit. Since 2022, he has batted just .236/.291/.387 across 835 plate appearances. His struggles continued during Cuba’s participation in the Premier12 tournament in November, where Moncada managed only a .143 batting average over 14 at-bats.
Despite these challenges, Moncada remains an intriguing rebound candidate, especially for a team like the Blue Jays. Toronto could view him as a low-risk signing with significant upside, assuming his health improves. A change of scenery from Chicago, where the White Sox suffered through a disastrous 121-loss season in 2024, might provide Moncada the fresh start he needs. His versatility adds to his appeal, as Moncada could fill in at third base or even return to second base, a position he played earlier in his career.
Moncada’s potential signing mirrors Toronto’s 2023 acquisition of Kiner-Falefa, a move aimed at providing stability and depth without requiring a major financial commitment. While Moncada lacks Kiner-Falefa’s defensive versatility, his history as a productive hitter makes him an intriguing option if the Blue Jays can revive his form. With the Juan Soto sweepstakes dominating Toronto’s offseason narrative, Moncada might represent a valuable addition to the roster regardless of the outcome of Soto’s negotiations.
For the Blue Jays, the decision to pursue Moncada signals their commitment to addressing weaknesses in the lineup while balancing financial considerations. If Moncada can regain his health and find his groove at the plate, he could provide a meaningful boost to Toronto’s infield as they aim to improve upon their 2024 performance and return to playoff contention in 2025.
