Cienfuegos,Cuba native Yoan Moncada could reach a deal with the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League as reported I on my X profile yesterday afternoon. Sources informed me that the negotiations between Yoan Moncada and Tiburones de La Guaira are in the advanced stages .
The infielder also told journalist Bruce Levine of his desire to play winter ball this year and his preference to play for Ozzie Guillén. Everything could happen after Premier 12 where Moncada will play with the Cuban team. The White Sox are nor expected to pickup a 24 million dollar team option.
In 40 at-bats he has hit 11 hits on the 2024 season. In the minors while recovering from an injury he swatted 22 hits in 56 at-bats with one home run, six RBIs, seven runs scored and has an OPS of 1.006. For the slugger it will be very important during the winter to have a good showing in order to secure a free agent contract.
This will the first time Moncada suits up in the winter leagues and he will do so with the current champion of the Caribbean Series. La Guaira is led by their charismatic manager Ozzie Guillen. On the Tiburones roster he will be a teammate of several Cubans such as Yasiel Puig, Ariel Miranda, Miguel Romero, Yurisbel Gracial and Erly Casanova.
Cubans in the Winters Leagues for 2024:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Andy Rodríguez RHP (Águilas)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
JC Escarra C-IF (Águilas)*
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Pedro León OF (Estrellas)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Estrellas)
Luis Avilés IF (Estrellas)
Jorge Martínez RHP (Estrellas)
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Liga ARCO:
Yasmany Tomás IF (Los Mochis)
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Los Mochis)
Roel Santos OF (Los Mochis)
Victor Labrada OF (Guasave)
Yadir Drake IF-Of (Guasave)
Yoel Yanqui IF (Mazatlán)
Diosbel Arias IF (Culiacán)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Ciudad Obregón)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Santurce)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
Bryan Chi RHP (Santurce)
Félix Pérez DH-OF (Santurce)
Yanquiel Fernandez OF (Ponce)
Pedro Echmendia RHP (Ponce)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Ponce)
Aledmys Díaz IF (San Juan)
Josimar Cousin RHP (Mayagüez)
Carlos Espinosa RHP (Mayagüez)
LVBP:
Leonys Martín OF (La Guaira)
Miguel Romero RHP (La Guaira)
Erlys Casanova RHP (La Guaira)
Ariel Miranda LHP (La Guaira)
Yurisbel Gracial 3B-OF (La Guaira)
Yasiel Puig OF (La Guaira)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Aragua)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Aragua)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Aragua)
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Aragua)
Onelki García LHP (Magallanes)
Peter O’Brien OF (Magallanes)*
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
Richard Guasch RHP (Anzoátegui)
Julio Robaina LHP (Caracas)
LBPN:
Yuniesky García RHP (Rivas)
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Rivas)
Rusney Castillo OF (Rivas)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Yordan Nodal LHP (Chinandega)
*Cuban-American