One of the major assignments for the Los Angeles Angels going into the 2024-25 offseason was finding a potential replacement for Anthony Rendon at third base. After years of injuries and underperformance, L.A. made it known that Rendon would no longer be guaranteed a starting role moving forward, despite still being owed $77.1 million over the next two years.
The Angels added players like Scott Kingery and Kevin Newman to the Major League roster, and brought in other infielders like Tim Anderson and J.D. Davis on minor league deals to compete for a roster spot in camp. However, all signs had been pointing to Luis Rengifo ultimately taking over Rendon’s starting role and the Angels finding another solution at second base.
That changed on Thursday, when the Angels reportedly agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with former Chicagi White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post:
Yoan Moncada to Angels. $5M. Could be good spot for Moncada under Ron Washington
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 7, 2025
Moncada is by no means a sure thing to be the Opening Day starter at third base, but that is largely due to a building injury history that included being limited to just 12 games last season with a left adductor strain.
For the most part, though, Moncada has been a productive player when healthy since entering the league in 2016. IN eight years with the White Sox, his OPS dipped below .700 for a full campaign only once (2022) and had an OPS+ above 115 in three seasons (2019, 2021 and 2024), although the latter was only 12 games.
He has had at least 20 doubles in four campaigns. And while injuries have been a problem for him, he has been significantly more available than Rendon in the last five years. He played in at least 90 games in every 162-game season from 2018-23.
It remains to be seen if the Angels are going to immediately make Moncada their starting third baseman, and what that might mean for Rendon’s future in Anaheim. But they certainly added quality depth with this move.
Potential Angels starting lineup with Moncada
If the Angels ultimately do land on Moncada as their starting third baseman, here is what an Opening Day lineup might look like. A reminder that Zach Neto is likely to start the season on the injured list.
C: Logan O’Hoppe
1B: Nolan Schanuel
2B: Scott Kingery (would be Rengifo at full strength)
SS: Luis Rengifo (would be Neto at full strength)
3B: Yoan Moncada
LF: Taylor Ward
CF: Mike Trout
RF: Jo Adell
DH: Jorge Soler
Bench:
Anthony Rendon
Kevin Newman
Mickey Moniak
Travis d’Arnaud
