RADIO
According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, with the Los Angeles Dodgers missing out on right-handed pitcher Yoan Lopez, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks; their focus has shifted to the 19-year-old switch-hitting infielder Yoan Moncada.
Source: #Dodgers aggressively pursued Yoan Lopez but came up short. Will now shift attention to OF Yoan Moncada. Expect a private workout.
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) January 13, 2015
Prior to the Dodgers' interest, the two teams considered as “heavy favorites” for the highly touted Moncada were the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Now including the Dodgers; the three teams with their focus on Moncada can certainly produce the estimated $30-40 million signing bonus that Moncada could receive. Any team that exceeds their assigned international bonus pools would be required to pay 100 percent tax which could result in a signing of Moncada costing a team at least $80 million.
The Dodgers have not been shy about their desire to add Cuban players to their organization. Two of their most recent signings out of Cuba include Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarrena, in which they spent a combined $57 million. The most notable of the Cuban signings by the Dodgers of late would be their star outfielder Yasiel Puig.
Moncada has been highly praised for having four-plus tools – hit, power, arm and speed. As of today, Moncada cannot sign with any club while he waits for clearance from the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control. There is no timetable for when he will receive the clearance.
