The Angels are bringing back a familiar face to help shore up their infield depth. On Wednesday, Los Angeles agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with third baseman Yoan Moncada, pending a physical.
It’s a move that gives the Angels a veteran option at the hot corner while Anthony Rendon continues his recovery from hip surgery. Rendon is expected to open the season on the 60-day injured list, so Moncada steps in as the likely starter - at least for now.
This marks Moncada’s second straight season in Anaheim. He first signed with the Angels last February on a one-year, $5 million deal, and while his 2025 campaign was interrupted by injuries, he showed flashes of offensive value when healthy.
In 84 games, he slashed .234/.336/.448 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles, and 35 RBIs in 289 plate appearances. That on-base percentage - buoyed by an 11.1% walk rate - remains one of his calling cards, even as strikeouts continue to be a hurdle, with punchouts coming in more than 25% of his trips to the plate.
Injuries have been a recurring theme in Moncada’s career, and last season was no different. A right thumb sprain and lingering knee inflammation sidelined him for much of the first half, limiting him to just 36 games before the All-Star break.
The good news? He stayed on the field the rest of the way, offering the Angels some much-needed stability down the stretch.
Once one of baseball’s most hyped prospects, Moncada’s career has taken a winding path through Boston, Chicago, and now Los Angeles. Across 10 big-league seasons, he owns a career .252/.332/.426 line. He’s only topped 100 games in a season four times, with injuries - including a significant adductor strain in 2024 - consistently cutting into his playing time.
Defensively, Moncada hasn’t graded out as a plus at third base in recent years, but the Angels appear ready to give him the bulk of the reps there to start the season. They do have other infield options on the 40-man roster, including Christian Moore at second, utility men Oswald Peraza and Denzer Guzman, and righty bat Vaughn Grissom, who was acquired from Boston. Both Peraza and Grissom are out of minor league options, so expect them to factor into the infield mix - though neither has locked down a starting role at third.
The Moncada signing is part of a broader offseason strategy for the Angels, one focused on short-term deals and financial flexibility. So far, they’ve added five major league free agents - Moncada, Kirby Yates, Drew Pomeranz, Jordan Romano, and Alek Manoah - all on one-year contracts worth $5 million or less. That approach has kept the team’s payroll around $180 million, roughly $13 million below where they started last season.
Even with those additions, Los Angeles isn’t done. The front office is still in the market for at least one more starting pitcher, and there’s room to upgrade the outfield behind Josh Lowe, Bryce Teodosio, and Wade Meckler. But with Moncada back in the fold, the Angels have a veteran presence at third and a bit more clarity as spring training approaches.