*Prediction*
The New York Yankees are desperately trying to return to the upper-echelon of MLB Teams, but it’s going to mean a plethora of moves made during the 2025 MLB Offseason. Third Baseman from the Los Angeles Angels Yoan Moncada should be a serious target, and could be found for the low.
Moncada is a lefty who primarily hits against right-handed-pitchers (225 at-bats against righties, versus just 23 at-bats against lefties). This spot-start potential is still valuable for someone who only received a one-year $5 million contract last season.
Yoan Moncada at 30-years-old still has talent left in the tank, and being a left handed hitter who is in the top-10% of MLB Hitters in Max-Exit-Velocity is power that the New York Yankees could use.
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Moncada offers a switch-hitter’s versatility, an established track record of on-base skills, and a left-handed presence the Bronx has periodically lacked. Moncada’s max-exit-velocity ranks in the Top-10 of MLB hitters from the 2025 season which is a great sign that he still has his power.
From a roster construction perspective Moncada is attractive because he represents a lower-risk, potentially high-reward piece. The short-term certainty would allow the Yankees to evaluate him in the Yankee Stadium environment — where his hit tool and pulling ability could be amplified — without tying up multi-year dollars.
Signings like Moncada’s become even more logical when you compare them to the roster drag of a large long-term contract at the hot corner. The Yankees’ current third baseman, Ryan McMahon, came in via trade and carries the remainder of a multi-year $70M extension the Yankees assumed — a contract that pays roughly $12M in 2025 with $16M owed in each of the next two seasons.
That commitment limits New York’s ability to chase premium free agents or absorb unexpected payroll needs, especially when the organization already has several large salaries on the books. Selling short-term upside (Moncada) for long-term anchoring (big guaranteed salaries) is rarely ideal for a team trying to remain flexible.
Finally, Moncada’s combination of plate discipline and gap power pairs well with the Yankees’ existing boppers — he doesn’t need to be the centerpiece to move the needle.
With rumors about the Yankees needing to trim or shuffle payroll to stay under a practical payroll threshold this winter, a low-commitment, high-upside signing like Moncada makes both baseball and business sense.
Yoan Moncada Stats
In 2025 with the Angels, Moncada quietly put together a solid offensive stretch, batting .234 with 12 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .784 OPS across 248 at-bats.