Report: Angels agree to 1-year, $5M deal with Moncada

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $5-million contract with free-agent third baseman Yoán Moncada, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Moncada only appeared in 12 games for the Chicago White Sox in 2024 after suffering an adductor strain April 9. He returned for a single at-bat late in the season before suiting up for Cuba at the WBSC Premier 12 tournament in November.

The 29-year-old became a free agent when Chicago declined its $25-million option early in the offseason.

If he's fully healthy, the switch-hitting Moncada will give the Angels some additional depth at the hot corner behind oft-injured star Anthony Rendon. Moncada could also potentially be used at DH or some other infield spots in a more versatile role. He has 203 games of experience at second base, although he struggled while playing the keystone early in his career.

Moncada and Kevin Newman, who inked a one-year deal earlier this winter, will likely serve as the Angels' reserve infielders in 2025. Utility player Scott Kingery is also on the 40-man roster but is now likely to begin 2025 at Triple-A since he has minor-league options remaining.

Other potential infield depth options attending Halos camp this spring include veterans J.D. Davis and Carter Kieboom, as well as two of Moncada's former White Sox teammates, Yolmer Sánchez and Tim Anderson.

Moncada is a lifetime .254/.331/.424 hitter with 93 home runs and 339 RBIs across parts of nine big-league campaigns, mostly with the White Sox. His best season came in 2019 when he earned some down-ballot MVP votes after putting up a .915 OPS with 25 homers. However, Moncada hasn't posted an OPS above .787 in any other season.