Red Sox land Moncada for $31.5 million

For Yankees' and Dodgers' fans hoping to land Yoan Moncada, there was bad news Monday morning. Their teams came close, but no cigar.

Moncada -- a coveted 19-year-old Cuban infielder -- has agreed to terms with the Red Sox on a deal worth $31.5 million, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. Because the signing pushes Boston over its international bonus limit, the team will pay a 100-percent tax on the contract, taking $63 million out of the franchise's wallet.

The deal smashes the record for an international amateur free agent -- the previous top deal was Yoan Lopez's $8.27 million contract with the D-backs, signed in January. Moncada was reportedly considering five offers and had worked out recently for the Brewers, Cubs, D-backs, Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, Tigers and Yankees.

Moncada is a switch-hitter with experience at shortstop, second base, third base and in the outfield. MLB.com's Jim Callis reports Moncada has the athleticism to play any position, though he's looked "uncomfortable at shortstop and fits best at second base."

Callis touts Moncada as the most sought-after Cuban teenager since Jorge Soler defected in 2011 and signed with the Cubs a year later. Moncada is a year younger than Soler was when he signed and is also likely to spend a few years in the Minor Leagues. Comcast Sports Net's Sean McAdam reports that Moncada is projected to start the season with Class A Greenville or Class A Advanced Salem. It has been more than a year since he's played in a competitive game.

Moncada was a star player on the Cuban national team, first grabbing the spotlight as a Major League prospect at the 16U World Championships in 2010. He already has two years of professional experience in the Cuban Serie Nacional, where he hit .283 with 13 stolen bases as a 17-year-old in 2012-13, then hit .273 with a .771 OPS as an 18-year-old in 2013-14.

Callis wrote that Moncada now ranks among the sport's "top dozen prospects." MLB.com gave above-average or better grades to four of his five tools -- his arm being the exception -- with Callis touting him as a player with "electric bat speed" who could "hit .280 with 20-25 homers" and 25-plus stolen bases per season.

Moncada is the second Cuban free agent to sign with Boston in the past calendar year -- the team penned outfielder Rusney Castillo to a $72.5 million contract as an international free agent late last summer.