Chicago White Sox: Three Trades that Shaped the 2020 Team
Chicago White Sox: 3 Trades that will shape the 2020 Team
Yoan Moncada
After seven strong seasons with the Chicago White Sox, ace Chris Sale was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the 2016-2017 offseason in exchange for Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, Victor Diaz and Yoan Moncada. Sale had a great run in Chicago but was looking to win a title and the White Sox were not close at the time. Thus, ending his tenure in white and black.
Kopech has not played since requiring Tommy John surgery at the end of 2018. Basabe and Diaz are both in the minors still.
However, Moncada was the main piece of the trade. He appeared in eight games for the Red Sox in 2016 but did not put together his first full season until 2018.
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In 2018, Moncada struggled immensely. He swung at everything and struck out 217 times, the most in the majors. He was only 23 at the time and showed some promise but needed to improve his pitch recognition before taking it to the next step. That’s exactly what he did.
Last season, Moncada improved greatly. Through 132 games, he hit .315 with a .915 OPS and 25 home runs with 79 RBIs. He struck out much less, only 154 times, in fewer plate appearances too. The infielder really matured as a hitter during his age-24 season.
Moncada is the White Sox third baseman of the future. They locked him up this offseason by extending him 5 years, for $70 million.