The Chicago Cubs have a need over at third base for this upcoming season and they could look to sign their crosstown rivals former most valuable player.
The Chicago Cubs will look to see if their top prospect Matt Shaw can win the starting third base job out of spring training which President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer has said that he will have to “earn” the job in spring training. Matt Shaw has a really great chance to win the job and become the Cubs starting third basemen come Opening Day. However, the Cubs could still look to sign another veteran to compete with Matt Shaw for the job.
The Chicago Cubs interest at the position
The Cubs had shown interest in both Korean superstar Hyeseong Kim, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year deal, as well as utility-man Josh Rojas who ended up signing a one-year deal with their crosstown rival the Chicago White Sox. The Cubs were connected to be one of the “several” teams interested in acquiring Yoán Moncada per baseball/sports reporter Francys Romero, after he was released by the Chicago White Sox earlier in the offseason. Missing out on both, the Chicago Cubs could look to sign former White Sox Yoán Moncada to provide that competition for Shaw.
Why may the Chicago Cubs look to bring in Moncada?
Once thought of as one of baseball’s future stars and top prospects Yoán Moncada has not lived up to being either of those things since debuting in the Major Leagues. Just playing twelve games for the White Sox in 2024 before going down with an injury, Yoán Moncada has dealt with a ton of injuries throughout his career which has limited his abilities and his time on the field.
Being that he is a switch hitter and looking to prove he can be healthy for this upcoming season the Chicago Cubs could look to sign Moncada to a one-year deal and either being a backup to Matt Shaw if Shaw takes off or be his platoon partner at third base. Moncada also has the ability to play second base which could add value for the Chicago Cubs who need someone else to fill in at second base until Nicor Hoerner returns from his offseason surgery.
Low-risk High-reward signing
Signing Yoán Moncada could provide a low-risk, high-reward type of signing for the Chicago Cubs to make. The once former prospect has shown flashes of potential greatness with finishing twenty-first in the MVP voting in 2019. Since then, Moncada hasn’t been able to replicate that same season due to not being able to stay on the field.
According to Spotrac they estimate Yoán Moncada’s market value at him signing a one-year $1.5 million deal. If the Cubs can get Moncada on this type of deal and he can prove to be healthy and get back to at least the numbers, he had during his 2021 season where he played had 14 HRs, 61 RBI, 33 doubles, with a slash line of .263/.375/.412 for an OPS and OPS+ of .787 and 116, in 104 games.
If the Chicago Cubs could get that level of production at that cost, then the Cubs would have a very productive player on their hands. And if Matt Shaw can indeed prove capable and takeoff and become the Cubs starting third basemen, then the Cubs have a valuable trade chip on their hands.
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