Penalties Could Hamper Yoan Moncada Signing for Dodgers

Signing Yoan Moncada has been an exciting possibility for the Dodgers this offseason, but according to Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers could have “weighty penalties” imposed upon them if they do sign the Cuban free agent.

The Dodgers didn’t have to deal with new international signing guidelines when they signed Cuban phenom Yasiel Puig in 2013. Now with stricter financial limitations when it comes to international spending, the Dodgers could be deterred from signing Moncada.

Gurnick explains the new guidelines:

"“Under current guidelines, each team is allotted a $700,000 base, plus a bonus pool determined by the team’s record the previous season, for the international signing period, which started on July 2 and ends on June 15.”"

Moncada could fetch a signing bonus between $30-40 million dollars, plus a 100% penalty assessed against any team which exceeds its

More bat flips? Yes, please. Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

bonus pool during a one-year time frame.

There is also a penalty which would ban a team which signs an international free agent from signing any additional bonus pool-eligible players for two years.

Andrew Friedman and Don Mattingly were on hand to watch the infielder’s private workout with the Dodgers.

The heralded Moncada would definitely be a prized signing for the Dodgers and their revamped international player development and scouting program. After signing Yasiel Puig to his $42 million contract, the superstar outfielder has silenced naysayers who balked at his hefty price tag at the time of his signing.

On the other hand, the Dodgers spent way too much on Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarrena who have not found a place on the Dodgers Major League roster since signing for $28 million and $25 million respectively.

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Call to the Pen

Although Moncada is in a whole other category than Guerrero or Arruebarrena, the foreboding penalty which would disallow the Dodgers from signing any other top pool-eligible international talent for two years seems like a steep price to pay. This is especially true after the Dodgers have forged their way back into the international free agent market after the dark period of the McCourt era.

The Red Sox and Yankees are also in the mix for Moncada as well.

Adrian wrote about the Dodgers and Moncada and the future of the Dodgers’ infield after 2015. With Juan Uribe in his final year of his contract, Moncada could be the future third baseman for the Dodgers should they take the leap and sign him. Even though I love Juan Uribe (by the way Uribe is getting his own bobblehead which is to be given away on July 11, 2015 at Dodger Stadium), the Dodgers don’t have anyone in their farm system (besides Corey Seager who is sticking to shortstop) to take over for Uribe at third in 2016.

It will be a big risk to sign Moncada which includes the penalties which would hamper any big future international signings for two years, but the Dodgers could have a brilliant left side of their infield with Seager and Moncada for years to come.