The Chicago White Sox have been one of the most active teams since the start of free agency, but this time, they went to work in retaining one of their core players long-term.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the White Sox and Yoan Moncada agreed on a five-year extension worth $70 million. The new contract also has a sixth-year option which could bring the total to $90 million.
This comes two months after Chicago handed another budding start, Luis Robert, a lucrative extension with a max value of $88 million. Like Moncada, Robert is considered a giant part of Chicago's promising future.
The White Sox complemented their young core by adding veteran All-Star slugger Edwin Encarnacion on a one-year pact and stud catcher Yasmani Grandal on a four-year, $73 million contract.
Widely regarded as the top prospect in baseball before he joined the White Sox on a full-time basis, Moncada has batted .266 through his first three full seasons, with 50 total home runs and 163 RBI.
Moncada signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2015, but he was traded two years later to the White Sox in a blockbuster deal that sent All-Star pitcher Chris Sale to Beantown. Victor Diaz, Luis Alexander Basabe and fastball specialist Michael Kopech also joined the White Sox in the deal.
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Moncada hasn't reached superstar status yet, but he showed signs of breaking out in 2019 after hitting .315 with 25 homers, 79 RBI and an OPS of .915. He finished the season with a 4.6 wins above replacement.
The White Sox finished with a 72-89 record in 2019, but they figure to compete for a playoff spot in a wild open American League. Chicago has a lot of work to do in catching up to the defending AL Central champion Minnesota Twins, but a wild card berth is certainly realistic.
With Moncada and Robert signed long-term, and with the White Sox working extensively to add more productive veterans to their roster, it won't be long until this team emerges as a World Series contender.
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