Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com was the first to report on Twitter this morning that the Boston Red Sox have landed Cuban phenom Yoan Moncada. The infield prospect signed for a record $31.5 million signing bonus, the most ever given to an international free agent. This obliterated the reigning bonus record of $8.27 million given out to Yoan Lopez by the Arizona Diamondbacks last month.
Sanchez notes that Moncada was considering offers from up to five teams. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Yankees offered $25 million to Moncada while showing a willingness to increase that figure to $27 million. However, neither of these offers would suffice.
Since Sandy Alderson and the Mets showed no interest in signing the pricey prospect, Boston is perhaps the best ulterior landing spot. Moncada will be out of the National League, while not on the Yankees. A win win. Plus, this signing takes the Red Sox, a strong competitor on the international free agent market, out of play for the next two seasons under MLB’s new guidelines. Thus, maybe the Mets will have a better shot at signing someone more fitting (financially) down the road.
Because of MLB’s international signing guidelines, the Red Sox will be forced to be a 100% tax on the signing. Therefore, the total cost for the Red Sox will be $63 million. Moncada is the first player to sign under these new guidelines, which also require him to sign a contract that says he will not return to Cuba to play baseball.
More on this as details arise.
