Kansas City Royals Should Open the Vaults for Yoan Moncada

Since the time that Frank White retired from the Kansas City Royals, second base has been quite the revolving door. While there have been times when a solid player has manned the position, like a Mark Grudzielanek, that has also been the position of Chris Getz. Quite frankly, the Royals have not had anything close to a cornerstone player at that position since White left in 1990.

That type of player is exactly what Cuban defector Yoan Moncada could be. A switch hitting 19 year old second baseman, Moncada did not produce spectacular numbers in the Cuban National Series, compiling a .277/.388/.380 batting line with four home runs and 21 stolen bases over his two seasons. However, scouts are drooling over his potential, comparing Moncada to Robinson Cano and the prime of Chase Utley.

That certainly sounds like a potential franchise second baseman and a cornerstone player. Naturally, bidding is expected to go berserk for the services of Yoan Moncada, especially as he is someone that is considered to have been the first overall pick if he was in the MLB Amateur Draft. However, since he is an international free agent, Moncada is available for everyone.

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This is where the Royals should come in. Even though they are not typically among the highest spenders when it comes to international free agents, Moncada is considered to be a special talent. As David Glass has shown a willingness to open the checkbook over the past few years, one more splurge for a player like Moncada would be the perfect cap to a solid offseason.

If those scouts comparing him to Utley and Cano are correct, then Yoan Moncada will be worth every cent being paid. Even more importantly for the Royals, he could stop the revolving door at second base while giving Kansas City a potential middle of the order, impact bat.

With teams like the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox expected to be serious suitors for Moncada, it would seem unlikely that the Royals would be his destination. However, smaller market teams have surprised the experts before. Just look at how the Oakland A’s shockingly signed Yoenis Cespedes to a four year contract when they were not considered to be a factor. As unlikely as it is, it could happen.

If ever the Kansas City Royals are going to empty the vaults for an international free agent, Yoan Moncada could be the one. Potential cornerstone second basemen do not come around often, as the Royals have discovered over the past 25 years. Hopefully, they can make a serious push to sign Moncada, and possibly add that impact bat they need for the future.

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