Yanks, Dodgers, BoSox in market for Moncada

The Yankees recently held a second workout for Moncada in Tampa. (Getty Images)

Cuban wunderkind Yoan Moncada, whose free agency is about the most interesting thing in baseball right now that doesn’t involve Alex Rodriguez, has moved into the “contract phase” of the process, according to Moncada’s agent David Hastings.

That means Moncada and his representative are done with all the private workouts (or close to it) and have begun fielding offers, with hopes for a deal by the end of February.

Moncada, a powerful 19-year-old infielder, is expected to cost somewhere in the eight-figure category, with executive/scout estimates ranging from as low as $12 million to upwards of $50 million. Some of the main players in this derby are expected to be the big-market, big-spending Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox, but several surprise small-market teams are also thought to be in the hunt, including the Padres, who have made a major mark this winter already, and perhaps even the heretofore under-the-radar Brewers, who have been otherwise eerily quiet this winter.

The wildly divergent contract estimates for Moncada can be explained by a number of factors, from Moncada’s special talent to his youthfulness (although he’s a teenager he may only be one or two years away from the majors — if that) to a system that will tax some of the possible signing teams as much as 100 percent of the deal (the Yankees and Red Sox are two of the teams in lined to be taxed that high, based on pervious international signings).

Moncada has said through Hastings he is aiming to become a franchise player who forever remains with one chosen team, and interestingly, he is still hoping to pick that team by the end of this month, or thereabouts, with the intention of getting quickly to spring training to try to make the major-league team this year. “I am hopeful by the end of next week we’ll have everything necessary to make a decision on where he’s going to be playing,” Hastings, a CPA by profession, said from his St. Petersburg, Fla., office.

There is little doubt among most baseball scouts Moncada, an extraordinarily powerful infielder, is a special talent.

“Dynamic, electric, explosive, robust talent,” is the way one scout put it. “All thirty teams will have some degree of interest. The competition will be fierce for his services, no doubt.”

While the Rangers and Cubs, the two teams disallowed from signing for more than $250,000 until July, would have to be seen as major long shots since Moncada wants to get to camp as soon as possible, they are two of the half-dozen are so teams to have worked out Moncada in private sessions. (Of course, it remains hard to see either one of those being able to convince him to wait until summer to sign when he appears anxious to get started.)

Of the dozen or so teams to work him out, at least half have had him in for a private workout. Most of the rhetoric remains flowery in its praise, with scouts emphasizing his amazing strength, speed and arm at such a young age — though, a couple scouts offered slightly less glowing reviews, with one noting that his extraordinary speed (6.65 in a 60) hasn’t translated to stolen-base ability and his right-side swing pales compared to his strong lefty swing.

Even that scout sees him as an everyday player, but warned, “There are just enough holes to keep him in the .260 range.”

Some say the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Moncada will need to stay at second base, or possibly play third base, with little or no likelihood to be able to make a switch to shortstop. But others see that as nitpicking an extraordinary talent.

Hastings says he is not a scout or evaluator but adds, “I personally think he’s going to be everything everyone says he’ll be. He has a maturity well beyond 19. He’s got the right mindset.”

As far as the positional question, Hastings said, “He has had more playing experience at second base, so he’s probably more comfortable at second. But he is an athlete. He can play any position.”

Most scouts seem to agree he has the potential to be a star. If he were available in the first-year player draft, there’s little doubt he’d be the top pick, with some comparing his talent to that of Bryce Harper, who received the record $9.9.-million bonus for a drafted position player but whose true market value will never be known since he was obviously beholden to the drafting team.

So while Harper received a small fraction of his true market value, Moncada should receive closer to his value — though still perhaps 50 percent below it should he be picked by one of the teams paying 100 percent tax. (For the record, Hastings also noted that while dollars are important he won’t necessarily go to the high bidder.)

The speculation thus far has centered on baseball’s three richest and biggest-spending teams. But one scout warned, “It’s unique that this type of talent is available on the open market. I definitely would not handicap his services only in terms of the highest revenue teams. Everyone will want to have a seat at the table to some degree.”

But who will be at the head of the table, that is the question. Here are some thoughts on possible landing spots.

1. Yankees: They are due for some attention-getting good news after an un-Yankeelike winter in which the key pickups beyond their own Chase Headley and Andrew Miller (who basically replaced David Robertson) were Didi Gregorius, Nate Eovaldi and Stephen Drew. “Based on interest and need, I feel like the Yankees are the No. 1 team,” said an executive from another interested team. No obvious second baseman of the future would seem to make them a natural fit. The New York Post reported they recently held a second “secret” workout for Moncada at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. It’s definitely a chance to limit the A-Rod headlines. However, at least in earlier assessments they weren’t talking about anything on the order of $40 million-to-$50 million.

2. Red Sox: Boston definitely is involved, but if they believe he’s a second baseman, well, franchise man Dustin Pedroia is under contract for seven more years. They do like Moncada and don’t shy away in the international scene, as evidenced by the record $72.5-million deal for Rusney Castillo.

3. Dodgers: They obviously have the money, and the just-acquired second baseman Howie Kendrick is a free agent after the year, so they’d likely fit, too, assuming they don’t see Alex Guerrero as their second baseman of the future (he can hit but there’s a major range question). The Dodgers scored big with their $42-million Yasiel Puig signing, and are also looking at 98-mph-throwing Yadier Alvarez as well as 29-year-old infielder Hector Oliviera (deep-pocketed teams may sign more than one big international signing now, as even one big signing takes them out of the signing game for two periods anyway).

4. Padres: Aggressive new GM A.J. Preller made an enormous splash by importing a whole new star-studded outfield as well as an ace, but he was best known for his international signings while in Texas. Logan White, a new top exec, was a key figure in bringing Puig and other international stars to the Dodgers. They looked closely at outfielder/third baseman Yasmany Tomas before he went to the Diamondbacks. And most importantly, the Padres remain most questionable on the infield.

5. Brewers: Milwaukee hasn’t been linked publicly to Moncada before, but at least one scout with a competing team suggested he thought the Brewers, along with the Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees, were most likely. Playing against such heavy hitters, they should fairly be considered an outsider, though perhaps not disregarded. Milwaukee has indeed worked out Moncada, according to sources. The Brewers have been an aggressive small-market club since Mark Attanasio bought them a decade ago but have been curiously quiet this winter, with the biggest move being the trade of ace Yovani Gallardo for prospects.

The Field: The Tigers are thought to have interest. The champion Giants saved money with the defection of Pablo Sandoval and decisions of Jon Lester and James Shields to go elsewhere. The Diamondbacks are becoming a big international player, with the signing of Yoan Lopez as well as Tomas. The Reds and A’s have been known to make international splashes on occasion. The Angels just traded Kendrick and have saved some money this winter following their 98-win season, a rarity for them. The Braves have a need and an international presence. The Cubs and Rangers are about the biggest international players, but they’d have to make the long-shot case for Moncada to wait.

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