White Sox Sign Yoan Moncada To Contract Extension
The Chicago White Sox made another contract extension this offseason as they have signed third baseman Yoan Moncada to a five year, $70 million contract. There is also a club option that might extend the deal through the 2025 season. Moncada will receive a $4 million signing bonus, $1 million in 2020, $6 million in 2021, $13 million in 2022, $17 million in 2023 and $24 million in 2024 as the team decided to backload the contract. He would have been arbitration-eligible in 2021, but this avoids it.
Moncada In 2019
Yoan Moncada was a top-rated prospect when acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the Chris Sale trade, but underperformed in 2017 and 2018. Then, in 2019, Moncada broke out and had a monstrous season. Moncada was more aggressive at the plate and also made a position change. Moncada slashed .315/.367/.548 with 34 doubles, five triples, 25 home runs, 79 RBIs, 83 runs, and stole 10 bases in 132 games in 2019. His advanced numbers were through the roof too as he had a .406 BABIP, .379 wOBA, and 141 wRC+ with also a 5.7 WAR. While some expect regression, Moncada is only 24 suggesting that he will sustain this success long-term.
White Sox Core Player Extensions
This was another great deal done by the White Sox this offseason as General Manager Rick Hahn gave out his third contract extension to core players. Earlier in the offseason, Hahn had signed top prospect Luis Robert to a six-year, $50 million dollar contract. Hahn also issued out a five-year, $16 million deal to reliever Aaron Bummer. Hahn signed Eloy Jimenez to a long-term deal in 2019 (six-year, $43 million). Tim Anderson (six-year, $25 million) was the first of the young core players in 2017. The club has now locked up their core for at least four years. The White Sox feel like right now is the time to contend, so giving all their young players extensions like these are going to be critical for the team in the future. Just another fantastic move by the team and Hahn.
