The Red Sox have reportedly agreed to a deal with 19 year old, switch hitting infield prospect Joan Moncada. The deal apparently contains a $31.5 million dollar signing bonus. Most scouts agree that if Moncada were eligible for this June's draft that he would be the 1st or 2nd pick.

 

Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada signs with Boston Red Sox - ESPN Boston

I heard them say on ESPN or MLB Network that he wasn't as MLB ready as Puig was and that Red Sox fans need to be patient with him. Is this what your hearing or you think he'll be up pretty quick?

I heard them say on ESPN or MLB Network that he wasn't as MLB ready as Puig was and that Red Sox fans need to be patient with him. Is this what your hearing or you think he'll be up pretty quick?

 

He's only 19 and they don't really have a position for him unless they suffer a couple of injuries. I'd say he'll spend this season in the minors for sure. From there it will depend on how he progresses. It wouldn't shock me to see them groom him for RF after Victorino's deal runs out. His signing also would allow them to use Betts or Bogaerts in a trade to acquire another SP like Hamels. He's an intriguing prospect.

Does this signing bonus go against the cap since he'll be in the minors this season?

Does this signing bonus go against the cap since he'll be in the minors this season?

 

There isn't a hard cap on signing foreign players. If you exceed the allowable amount of bonuses to sign foreign players you have to pay a dollar for dollar penalty for however much you exceed it. The Red Sox were already at the limit with the Rusney Castillo signing last year. That means they'll have to pay $31.5 million to Moncada and another $31.5 million to MLB as a penalty.

 

Hopefully he is worth it. At 19 he's got a ton of upside. I know the Yankees thought enough of him to offer him a $27 million signing bonus. That would have resulted in a $27 million dollar penalty as well.

Thanks, I wasn't sure how that worked.