Ex-Red Sox Top Prospect Drawing ‘Doubt’ From Teams In MLB Free Agency?

A former Boston Red Sox prospect hit free agency this offseason, but how popular the market will be on him is up in the air.

The Chicago White Sox declined Yoán Moncada’s team option for 2025, making him a free agent. Moncada hasn’t been able to maintain a consistent stretch of solid production with the Southsiders, except for his career 2019 season.

That might be why there are teams that “doubt his ability to have a midcareer turnaround,” according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

It was nearly a decade ago the 29-year-old was seen as a future cornerstone player for Boston. The Cuban infielder was a five-tool prospect that drew comparisons to Robinson Canó, and he quickly shot up the ladder in the minor leagues.

However, his last productive season for Chicago was in 2021 when he was a 4.0 rWAR third baseman who hit 14 home runs with 61 RBIs off a .787 OPS. The nine-year infielder primarily struggled with injuries in his major league career. He flashed his talent at the 2023 World Baseball Classic slashing .435/.519/.739, with a team-leading 10 hits in 23 at-bats for Cuba.

However, if he can’t stay healthy, it will be difficult for Moncada to land on a roster in the offseason.