Service Clock, “Super 2” Status
The White Sox are playing their cards the way any team with a prized prospect would…carefully and with patience. This White Sox season is going to be a wash anyways. Rick Hahn has stated that they will not buy at the deadline regardless of where they sit in the standings. Moncada could come up right now and probably be the best second baseman on the team. However, there are two main factors in play.
The first obstacle the White Sox are waiting to hurdle is Moncada’s service clock issue. Basically, if the White Sox bring up Moncada before May 15th, they only control him for six years. However, if they wait until after May 15th, they get that seventh extra year of control. The most relatable past scenario to picture is what the Cubs did with Kris Bryant. Bryant could have easily been the starting third baseman coming out of Spring Training in 2015. However, by waiting a few weeks, the Cubs were able to pick up an extra year of control. Right now, it looks like they made the right move. So, May 15th is one date White Sox fans could be looking forward to.
The second obstacle in the way of the White Sox and Moncada is having him avoid “Super 2” status. This is a little more difficult to describe, so I will try to make it as easy as possible.
A player can obtain “Super 2” status if they fall in the top 22% of players in the league between two and three years of MLB service time. 1 year of MLB service time equates to 172 days on an MLB roster or disabled list. A player with “Super 2” status allows them to be eligible for arbitration before their third full year in the league. Therefore, the two weeks Moncada played for the Red Sox last year can put the White Sox in a bit of a pickle. Usually, players qualify for “Super 2” status if they accumulate two years and 130 days of their third year, but the number can vary.
In short, The White Sox can wait until the end of June to be all but certain Yoan Moncada avoids being hit with “Super 2” status. This will help delay the time it takes for him to become arbitration eligible, saving the White Sox roughly $10 MM in the long run. For a team that will be looking to dive into free agency after the 2018 season, they are going to need all the money they can get.
My final prediction is that we will not see Moncada on the South Side of Chicago until immediately after the All-Star break. That way they can be certain that he avoids “Super 2” status, and more importantly, he can take another two and a half months to work on correcting his weaknesses. It sucks that we have to wait, but the wait will be well worth it in the end.
Yoan Moncada is going to be one of the better position players the White Sox have had in a long time. A true 5-tool talent, Moncada will be the face of the franchise sooner rather than later. However, it is within the White Sox best interest to be patient, let him develop, and ensure they get as many years of guaranteed control as they possibly can. It will work out for both Moncada and the White Sox in the long run. Remember White Sox fans, good things happen to those who wait, but from Moncada, I think we can expect things to be great.
