Report: Angels bring back Moncada on 1-year, $4M deal
The Los Angeles Angels are re-signing free-agent third baseman Yoán Moncada on a one-year, $4-million contract, sources told Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Moncada was the Angels' primary third baseman in 2025 after joining the club on a similar one-year pact last winter. Although thumb and knee injuries limited the 30-year-old to 84 games in 2025, he hit .234/.336/.448 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs across 248 plate appearances. Despite the abbreviated season, those totals marked Moncada's best offensive numbers in five years.
However, he struggled defensively at the hot corner. Once a sure-handed defender, Moncada rated as one of the worst third basemen in baseball last year, accruing minus-10 defensive runs saved and minus-13 outs above average. Meanwhile, his arm strength ranked in the 24th percentile. He also failed to play in 100-plus games for a third straight season.
Both sides are hoping the reunion will help Moncada rediscover some of his old form in 2026. A strong first-half performance could also position the Angels to trade him if they're out of contention leading up to the deadline.
Moncada will presumably regain the everyday third-base job in Anaheim. Christian Moore, the Halos' 2024 first-round draft pick who made his big-league debut last summer, had been projected to take over the job. But with Moncada back in the fold, Moore can start at his natural position of second base, while Vaughn Grissom moves into a utility role.
The Angels, coming off their 10th straight losing season and second consecutive 90-loss campaign, are having a busy winter, though most of their moves have been marginal. In addition to bringing Moncada back, they inked former All-Stars Alek Manoah, Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz, and Kirby Yates to one-year deals. The team also traded for Grissom, outfielder Josh Lowe, and starter Grayson Rodriguez.
Originally signed by Boston after defecting from Cuba in 2015, Moncada is a lifetime .252/.332/.426 hitter with 105 homers and 374 RBIs across parts of 10 big-league seasons with the Angels, Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox.