The Yankees have been reluctant to spend big throughout the course of this offseason, and it appears that hesitation was the reason they missed out on Yoan Moncada.
The Yankees weren't willing to match Moncada's $31.5 million offer from the Red Sox -- essentially knocking them out of the sweepstakes for him -- team GM Brian Cashman said Monday.
Moncada had had three private workouts with the Yankees prior to making his decision, but New York was informed by his agent Sunday they weren't going to acquire his services. The Yankees reportedly went as high as $25 million for the Cuban infielder, a deal that would have cost them over $50 million due to their surpassing MLB's international spending limit.
But the Red Sox were evidently still fine with sacrificing more, and in doing so managed to lock up a prospect many expect to speed through the minors.
"He's got a lot of ability and projects to be a quality player," Cashman said of Moncada, according to ESPN New York. "I don't think anybody disagrees with the ability."
On the Red Sox, Moncada will join forces with fellow Cuban slugger Rusney Castillo -- whom the club also inked last fall.
Moncada follows Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Abreu and Aroldis Chapman as a few of the notable players to have come from the island in recent years, and will certainly not be the last to make the trip. Infielders Hector Olivera and Andy Ibanez and RHP Yadier Alvarez have too had their names mentioned this winter, and are each said to have received interest from the Yankees.
The Yankees are still disappointed they couldn't get Moncada, though, and Cashman says they were in on him until the very end.
"We went to where we were comfortable going, and [Boston's offer] was an uncomfortable number to put forth," Cashman said. "But it still fell short."
The Yankees will now likely look to youngsters Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela to represent their second base of the future, a plan they seemed to be content with before choosing to give Stephen Drew another chance last month. Refsnyder and Pirela were already set to compete for a roster spot at spring training, so the absence of Moncada in the system could help their development.
And maybe, in turn, shine some light on a day Yankees fans probably want to forget.
"It just comes down to how much money you were willing to commit," Cashman said.