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Yoan Moncada will officially be introduced by the Red Sox on Friday, after disappearing from the spotlight for a few weeks while all the paperwork that comes with Cuban free agency was filled out. The 19-year-old could be a special talent, and while the Red Sox have not mentioned where he will inevitably play, it could be just about anywhere on the diamond. He's a shortstop now, but only in the sense that a lot of talented, toolsy 19 year olds are shortstops: he'll likely move off the position and end up either at third base or in the outfield.
The story of how Moncada came to sign with the Red Sox is a fascinating one, and involves a Tampa CPA turned Moncada representative, a makeshift but tight-knit family that cared for Moncada's future in baseball, and the Daytona 500. No, really, all of those things are part of how Moncada ended up signing a $31.5 million bonus -- a record, by the way -- with the Red Sox.
Moncada is a first-round talent, one many experts believed could have gone first overall in the 2015 MLB draft were he eligible, and many outlets have already ranked him as a top-10/top-15 prospect based on what they've seen from public showcases and his previous playing time while still a member of Cuba's teams. It's unknown just when he'll be ready for the majors, but both Moncada and the Sox have time on their side, especially since he signed a minor league deal and not a major league one, making him just like any other prospect. Except for the whole record-breaking signing bonus and massive expectations, anyway.
- While we're on the subject of Cuban free agents, Hector Olivera reportedly received a $77 million offer from the Dodgers. That's likely a six-year deal, while the Padres ($52 million) and Braves ($44 million) either offered far less money per year, or are the teams who submitted those reported four-year offers Olivera was mulling over.
- 18-year-old Cuban pitcher Yadier Alvarez has officially petitioned MLB for free agency, so maybe Moncada won't be the last major Cuban free agent of this international signing period. Alvarez is supposed to be eligible to sign as July 2, but there were whispers he might challenge that delay, since his being in Cuba precluded him from getting the necessary paperwork in on time.
- These are the five key players of the National League Central, the ones whose seasons will determine how their team is going to fare in what is somehow an even more competitive division.
- Will Ferrell, traveling via helicopter, played in five different games and at all nine positions on Thursday. Yes, Ferrell even pitched, and we've got plenty of the day's action for you to check out if you missed it or just want to relive it.
- Allen Craig could be a useful hitter for the Red Sox (or whoever they trade him to), but it won't happen unless he's healthy. The way he's pitched could be the best indicator of whether he's healthy or not.
- This is a ranking of every division in the major sports. Not just baseball's six divisions, all of them.
- The Phillies are still scouting prospects for a Cole Hamels trade, as they sent a major scout to watch the Yankees take on the Red Sox earlier this week.
- A power ranking of things abbreviated with the letters "KK." Yes, it's baseball-related.
- The Yankees spent tens of millions on reliever Andrew Miller this winter, but they reportedly plan on using Dellin Betances as their closer anyway.
- Remember to keep quality of competition in mind when getting excited about spring training box scores. And not just when you're trying to project Will Ferrell's chances at catching on, either.
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