Back when there was a chance that Cuban super prospect Yoan Moncada’s free agency would be delayed on into April or May, it was a lot more exciting to hear that the Chicago Cubs were planning to give him a private workout.
But now that he’s fully cleared to sign (and reportedly wants to sign ASAP – like, before Spring Training starts), it’s a little less exciting to hear that Moncada will work out for the Cubs in Florida at some point this week (Jesse Sanchez). With Moncada eager and available to sign immediately, and with the Cubs prohibited from signing him for more than $250,000 until July 2, it doesn’t take a calendar or an abacus to figure out that Moncada probably won’t be landing with the Cubs.
So why work him out, then, if the Cubs don’t really have a shot?
I don’t have any kind of straight-from-the-horse’s-mouth answer on that one, but I can tell you what my answer would be: Why not work him out?
It’s technically still possible that the Cubs could see him, become so insanely enamored that they offer him a ton more than the next highest bidder is offering, and then he decides to wait on the Cubs. I really, really, really doubt that, though.
More likely is that this is an opportunity to see a top young talent in a private setting, where you can start to get a better scouting book on him. He’s going to be playing in MLB soon enough, and, from there, you never know what might happen. So go ahead and get a great scouting look at him now while you can, even if there’s no meaningful chance that you can sign him at this time.
That’s where I land on this, anyway. I think it’s worth noting the workout – which I’m doing by way of this post – but I’m not going to give it too much more thought after I press publish.
I still expect Moncada to sign with one of the Yankees, Red Sox, or Dodgers, and likely very soon. Which, well, sigh …
Where does phenom Yoan Moncada compare to baseball’s elite prospects? @jimcallisMLB weighs in: http://t.co/QXDf5M00gw pic.twitter.com/SR6NUla7Mp
— MLB (@MLB) February 11, 2015