MLB Rumors: Los Angeles Angels intend to begin Anthony Rendon versus Yoan Moncada
The Los Angeles Angels signed Yoan Moncada to a $5 million one-year contract on Wednesday. The Angels are anticipated to start Moncada at third base this season, according to a report by Jon Heyman on Friday night. Anthony Rendon, who has a long history of injuries throughout his time with the Angels, will give way to Moncada as the starting quarterback.
Moncada is starting his ninth season in the league at the age of thirty. Moncada made his Boston Red Sox debut in 2016 and has been with the Chicago White Sox since 2017. Due to a left adductor issue in April of 2024, Moncada was only able to play 12 games.
Moncada, who has participated in 208 games overall over the past three seasons, has struggled with injuries. Furthermore, Moncada has been more active on the field than Rendon despite having noticeable lapses in his game logs. Since joining the Angels before the 2020 season, the 34-year-old Rendon has never participated in more than 58 games in a season.
Moncada can be fairly productive at the plate when healthy. The 140 OPS+ he earned in 2019—a season in which he dominated—solidified Moncada's lifetime OPS+ of 106.accomplished a career-high 25 home runs while hitting 315/.367/.548.
In five of his six seasons with more than 90 games played, Moncada has recorded an OBP of over.300 and routinely has a slugging percentage of over.400.
Third base has been Moncada's main defensive position in Major League Baseball. Moncada has a.963 fielding percentage during more than 6,000 innings of fieldwork, and he only makes more than 20 errors in a season once. With 37 and 17, respectively, Moncada lead the league in double plays turned in 2019 and 2020. Ron Washington, Moncada's new manager, will undoubtedly help him.
According to this Sports Illustrated piece by Noah Camras, Washington, who is starting his second season as head coach of Anaheim, is regarded as one of the greatest defensive managers in the league.
Moncada may be relieved to leave the historically poor White Sox, but he joins an Angels team that placed fifth in the American League West with a 2024 record of 63-99. The Cuban slugger Moncada might benefit from a change of scenery on the West Coast.
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