MLB Free Agents 2015: Cuba Infielder Yoan Moncada to Pick Between NY Yankees, LA Dodgers, Red Sox, Rangers, Padres Soon
Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada and his camp are studying all of their options, but his agent revealed that they are planning to announce their decision on where the coveted infielder will play in the upcoming 2015 MLB season soon.
David Hastings, Moncada's representative who is based in Florida, told the Los Angeles Times that they are going to starting fielding contract offers in the next two weeks and will sign with a team immediately.
Moncada has been one of the most coveted talents over the past several as reports indicate that the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers worked out the 19-year-old switch hitter.
"I'm hoping, certainly, that by the end of next week, we'll have a much clearer picture of where he will sign," Hastings said. "I'm kind of hoping we're at the final end of the process. I hope I will be able to get Yoan into a team's spring-training practice as soon as possible."
According to ESPN, the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels also expressed interest in Moncada after inviting the Cuban for a private workout.
Moncada, who averaged .277 in two seasons with Cuban club Cienfuegos in Serie Nacional, is considered as an international amateur despite playing in his country's top league because he is still under 23 years old. This means some teams are barred from offering a certain amount of bonus, including the Cubs and Rangers, because they have already exceeded the bonus pool limit in recent seasons.
Teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays have exceeded the international spending limit, which means that the salary they will offer will be subjected to 100 percent tax. A $25-million deal would cost a team $50 million in salary and taxes.
According to reports, the amount of signing bonus that a team can offer will be the deciding factor as Moncada's camp is reportedly expecting around $30-50 million signing bonus.
Interested teams gauged Moncada's capability at second base, third base and shortstop position. Some teams also auditioned him in the outfield, and Moncada said that he will do his best at any position once he signs a deal to play in the major league next season.
"My goal is to sign with a team soon, start training with them and make it to the major leagues as fast as I can with whichever team that might be," Moncada said in a recent interview via ESPN. "I know I'm going to do the best I can for as long as I can in this sport."
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