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Interesting. SS/2B, 19 years old. Given that we spend very little in IFA cash, I wonder if we just take the plunge on this guy.
(Prediction: we absolutely will not)
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11...ed-free-agency
(Prediction: we absolutely will not)
Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada, who left the country with the government's permission earlier this year, has been cleared by Major League Baseball to sign as a free agent, a source confirmed Saturday.
Moncada still must be cleared by the Office of Foreign Assets Control before he will be eligible to sign and begin his professional career.
MLB.com earlier reported Moncada's clearance.
Moncada, 19, is considered by major league scouts to be one of the best prospects to come out of Cuba. Under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players' union, however, he will be treated as an amateur free agent rather than a professional, as Yasiel Puig and Jose Abreu were.
Any major league team that signs Moncada must do so out of its July 2 budget for international free agents, and will pay a penalty of 100 percent on any amount paid to Moncada over that team's fixed budget amount. With the bonus paid to Moncada expected to exceed $30 million, the team that signs him would thus pay nearly $60 million in salary and penalties and would be proscribed from signing any July 2 (international) amateur free agent for the next two years for over $300,000.
The Cubs and Rangers are currently prohibited from signing any player over that number due to exceeding their bonus pool limits in previous years, and thus will be unable to sign Moncada unless OFAC delays his ultimate free agency.
Moncada worked out in front of scouts from all 30 teams Nov. 12 in Guatemala City, and is expected to travel to the United States for private workouts with teams once he's cleared by OFAC.
A switch-hitter and a natural shortstop, he's worked out around the infield, and is more likely to end up at second base, showing power from the left side and above-average speed.
Moncada still must be cleared by the Office of Foreign Assets Control before he will be eligible to sign and begin his professional career.
MLB.com earlier reported Moncada's clearance.
Moncada, 19, is considered by major league scouts to be one of the best prospects to come out of Cuba. Under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players' union, however, he will be treated as an amateur free agent rather than a professional, as Yasiel Puig and Jose Abreu were.
Any major league team that signs Moncada must do so out of its July 2 budget for international free agents, and will pay a penalty of 100 percent on any amount paid to Moncada over that team's fixed budget amount. With the bonus paid to Moncada expected to exceed $30 million, the team that signs him would thus pay nearly $60 million in salary and penalties and would be proscribed from signing any July 2 (international) amateur free agent for the next two years for over $300,000.
The Cubs and Rangers are currently prohibited from signing any player over that number due to exceeding their bonus pool limits in previous years, and thus will be unable to sign Moncada unless OFAC delays his ultimate free agency.
Moncada worked out in front of scouts from all 30 teams Nov. 12 in Guatemala City, and is expected to travel to the United States for private workouts with teams once he's cleared by OFAC.
A switch-hitter and a natural shortstop, he's worked out around the infield, and is more likely to end up at second base, showing power from the left side and above-average speed.
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