Former Guardians foe signs yet another contract with lowly Angels

At one point in time, Yoán Moncada seemed poised to be the next great Guardians’ villain. Now he’s largely an afterthought. 

On Wednesday, Moncada signed a one-year, $4 million with the Angels, marking the second straight season he’s had to settle for a one-year pact with one of the American League’s perennial bottom-feeders.

Yoán Moncada’s latest contract shows that he never became the Guardians killer he was supposed to be 

A former top prospect, Moncada was the headline of the White Sox’s prospect return in their 2016 trade that sent Chris Sale to Boston. 

After putting together two up-and-down seasons with the White Sox in 2017 and ‘18, Moncada authored a breakout 2019 season where he hit .315 with 25 home runs that eventually led to Chicago’s ownership giving him a five-year, $70 million extension. 

While Moncada followed that up with a stellar 2021 season, that season largely marked the beginning of the end of his peak, as he spent the next three seasons in Chicago dealing with injuries and inconsistency. 

After playing in 104 games in 2022 and 92 games in ‘23, Moncada only managed to play in 12 games in 2024 due to a groin strain he suffered in April against the Guardians. 

The White Sox cut bait with him after that season, and signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Angels. 

And, after slashing .234/.336/.448 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI last year, he’s back in the fold with the Angels on a deal that’s $1 million cheaper. 

Moncada only managed to play in 86 games last year due to a right thumb sprain and inflammation in his right knee, which has become the story of his career. 

Moncada’s contract the proverbial chaser to the shot of the White Sox trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets earlier this week. In 2021, both of them looked like budding stars for a White Sox team that flew past the Guardians in the American League Central. 

Now Robert’s in the National League and Moncada is nowhere near the player he once was. 

Although Moncada’s a career .251 hitter against the Guardians with 12 home runs, he hit .344 against Cleveland in his strong 2019 season while also recording his only career multi-homer game against the club. 

He played in three games against the Guardians last year and managed to go 3-for-8 with a home run. 

Even though Moncada is a better (and cheaper) option at third for the Angels compared to Anthony Rendon, his fall off is yet another reminder of the Guardians’ unparalleled consistency in the AL Central over the past half decade.