With so many alternatives to replace Willy Adames’ output in the upcoming season (and beyond), the Milwaukee Brewers are getting ready for life without him. We’ve discussed the Brewers’ internal and external choices, but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com has provided another possible match for the team.
The Brewers may target third baseman Yoan Moncada to partially or completely replace Adames’ output, according to Feinsand. There are many contrasts between the two players because they play different positions and have distinct offensive skill sets, but Moncada has showed promise over the years and demonstrated why he was once a top prospect.
For the first time in his major league career, 29-year-old Moncada is available to free agents. Moncada played for the Chicago White Sox for eight years after joining them in the infamous Chris Sale trade with the Boston Red Sox. During that time, he had a number of strong seasons but also many that were cut short by injuries. The Brewers would be able to sign the nine-year veteran on a low-cost “prove it” contract, which would undoubtedly draw in the team that usually finishes in the bottom half of the league in terms of salary. Yoan Moncada makes sense for the team, but only to a certain extent. There is some risk involved, even with a cheap price.
In the first place, Moncada has only made four appearances in more over 100 games during his career. In just two of them, he had an OPS+ above 100, which is league average. Otherwise, when he was healthy enough to play, he either played poorly or was placed on the injured list. It’s safe to argue that Moncada would be worth a try because he’s still young and has previously shown some potential with the White Sox. He had a successful 12-game run for the White Sox this season before an early injury ended his season, and he is just a few years away from hitting.263 with a.787 OPS for the 2021 White Sox.
Moncada makes sense for this roster, at least in part, but the Brewers have several options for improving their roster. It would have to be a complimentary move to sign him, and it would have to be part of a larger, more important deal, like pursuing a bigger, more powerful player on the free market.
