Today is the first day of full squad workouts for the Chicago White Sox in Arizona. Although everyone is now out West, all of the questions seem to be relating to a player not even on the team: Manny Machado.
If the Sox are fortunate enough to add the superstar to the lineup, the assumption is that he will move back to 3rd base. Until that happens though, many seem to believe that Yoan Moncada will take over the hot corner.
Moncada has played some 3rd before, but never with the White Sox. That’s probably why the organization has him taking more reps there this spring.
Yoan Moncada on playing some third base. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/Nry3ukLpzL
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) February 18, 2019
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Moncada is athletic enough to play 3rd, but he has been developed through the system as a pure 2nd baseman. If the White Sox are able to land Manny, this whole discussion is a moot point assuming he plays the majority of his games at 3rd.
If they miss out on Manny, the Sox can either elect to keep the infield the same as last year with Yolmer at 3rd and Moncada at 2nd, or they can decide to flip the two players and have Moncada at the hot corner and Yolmer at 2nd. Yolmer can play anywhere on the infield and Moncada fits the offensive profile of 3rd base better than Sanchez.
More Yoán doing work at third, while Yolmer is taking balls at second. Strong possibility this is more interesting on Feb. 18 than it will be on April 18, but it’s what’s happening today. José Rondón also taking work at third pic.twitter.com/y54bAFR65P
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) February 18, 2019
Then there’s the fact that Nick Madrigal is looked at as a future gold glove winner at 2nd base. When the time comes for him to get called up, and many believe it could be this year, then Moncada would be the guy most likely to move to 3rd. This allows a gold glove caliber 2nd baseman in Madrigal to play regularly, it keeps Anderson at short, where he improved dramatically last year, and gives you a great utility man coming off the bench in Yolmer.
So while Moncada taking more and more reps at 3rd doesn’t necessarily mean anything significant right now, it’s a good idea to get him more time there. There are a lot of factors in play when it comes to the future of the White Sox infield. It’s better to have Moncada ready for anything so he doesn’t have to go through an extended adjustment period.
