News broke today that top Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada has agreed to join the Boston Red Sox for a record $31.5 million signing bonus. It’s been said that the decision was down to the Red Sox, New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres.
The Yankees made an offer of $25 million, according to Joel Sherman. The offer was not good enough, as the Yankees lost out on the star Cuban prospect to no other than the Red Sox. It is bad enough that the Yankees did not end up with the 19-year-old infielder, but the Red Sox? The Steinbrenners and Brian Cashman are going to feel the wrath of the Red Sox loaded farm system for years to come.
It is no secret that the Yankees and their fan base is desperate for a middle infield superstar. After Derek Jeter‘s farewell tour, the Yankees traded for Didi Gregorius, and signed Stephen Drew. Fans would have rejoiced at the excitement of a more hopefully future.
Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann were both disappointments in their first season in the Bronx. Signing Moncada would have given Yankee fans reason to rejoice and get excited for the next couple of years, in addition to Masahiro Tanaka. Now that he went to the rival Red Sox, Yankee fans get to watch Moncada in the white and red for the next decade.
But there are two sides to every story, and the other side is the risk involved with signing the unproven teenager. At just 19-years-old, anything can happen. The Red Sox are investing a lot of money in a guy who they hope turns into the franchise player everyone is saying he can be.
This is the type of guy that the Yankees needed, however. A guy who Brian Cashman said “has a high ceiling.” Robinson Cano is the last superstar middle infielder the Yankees have had, and he left for Seattle a year ago. It is a different age for the Yankees, who are trying to cut costs and get younger, but they failed to bring in a guy that could be a cornerstone piece for a franchise. Instead, they let him go to the one team Yankee fans did not want to see him go to.
It is something the Yankees will now have to live with. They had their chance and failed to bring in the best infield prospect in baseball. At least Yankees fans can smile about something: Alex Rodriguez is back.
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