As a confirmation of my piece earlier this week, Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada has received word that he will be granted unrestricted MLB free agency. A report from Jesse Sanchez of mlb.com details a message sent from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control to Moncada's agent, David Hastings. As was previously noted, Moncada's residency in Guatemala before moving to Miami, Florida, has allowed him to become an unblocked national, and therefore opens him up to conversation with any interested team.
Just exactly when negotiations will begin remains to be seen. However, Moncada is widely expected to become a hot commodity among most major league organizations. To get a sense of just what Yoan Moncada could mean for the Phillies, check out this piece on the response to his first workout and the general feeling about his potential. As his story develops, we will continue to update you with as much information as possible.
Andrew Gillen, Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com