The Angels’ deadline day makeover came with a twist: while the club moved a wave of players and improved its farm system, one injured infielder stayed behind - and now he’s being sized up as one of the market’s most interesting free agents.
Yoan Moncada, who is on the 60-day injured list after undergoing right knee surgery in June, hasn’t looked close to a return and could be done for the season. If he had been healthy when the deadline hit, his contract situation almost certainly would have put him in play.
Instead, the Angels kept him, and MLB.com staff named Moncada the biggest impending free agent. Their case was straightforward: the injuries have piled up, but the upside is still there.
“Moncada has missed a lot of time due to injuries over the past several years,” staff members wrote Sunday. “This season, he’s been sidelined since late May and is recovering from right knee surgery.
“Still, he’s only a year removed from posting a .783 OPS with 12 home runs in 289 plate appearances and can play both second and third base. He may very well be looking at a one-year contract or a Minor League deal with incentives.”
Moncada’s season has been a tough one on the surface. In 41 games, he’s hit three home runs and driven in 10 runs while slashing .189/.308/.297 for a .605 OPS.
But the broader résumé still has some weight. Over 872 games, he owns a .250/.331/.422 slash line with a .752 OPS.
A former top prospect, Moncada has shown he can produce when healthy and in rhythm. The question now is whether he can get back on the field and stay there. He’ll turn 32 on May 27, and if he does land in free agency, the profile points toward a short-term deal with some upside attached.
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