Yoan Moncada Wins $7 Million Arbitration Against Former Agent
Free agent third baseman Yoan Moncada has successfully secured an arbitration award exceeding $7 million in his case against former agent David Hastings, as revealed by court documents.
The ruling, made by arbitrator James Hayes from the MLB Players Association, marks a significant win for Moncada, who had employed Hastings as his representative until 2020.
“This has been a long fight for justice,” Moncada stated through his attorney, “where I was taken advantage of by people I trusted. We appreciate the support of the players’ association in this matter.”
Moncada’s claims included charges of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty against Hastings.
In response, Hastings’ attorney, Don Hodson, indicated plans to appeal the ruling. “It’s typically an uphill battle, but we’re confident about the potential for a reversal,” Hodson noted. He argued that the MLB Players Association had authorized Hastings’ actions and additionally suggested that the MLBPA intends to bring their own lawsuit.
Moncada’s lawyer, Jordan Schieve from Reed Smith, countered, saying, “No evidence was shown during the hearing that supports the MLBPA giving approval—end of story.”
The MLBPA has opted not to comment on the situation.
Hodson also mentioned that Hastings’ wife, Josefa Gonzalez, aims to proceed with her own lawsuit against Moncada in Florida.
Documentation reveals a concerning narrative about extensive efforts to profit from acquiring talented Cuban baseball players. Moncada began his career earning a mere $4 a month in Cuba, eventually signing a $31.5 million deal with the Red Sox after moving to the U.S. However, recent changes in MLB rules have capped international bonuses significantly to prevent exploitative practices.
As part of this operation, Gonzalez and his associate Nicole Banks, with Hastings’ assistance, formed Baseball Divas LLC, which focused on recruiting skilled Cuban players. Banks was initially hired as a recruiter with promises of future commission shares, whom Moncada later married, although they have since divorced and share a child.
The court filings indicated that Banks found Moncada after hearing from a Yankees scout about potential payments if he made it to the U.S. Their relationship evolved quickly, culminating in marriage just six months later. Moncada testified that he was unaware of any business dealings Banks had with Hastings.
Gonzalez has filed a lawsuit, asserting that he had an agreement with Moncada entitling him to a percentage of future deals. Nevertheless, neither Hastings nor Gonzalez produced any contractual documents backing this claim, even as Moncada affirmed he had signed everything presented to him, despite his limited English at the time.
Currently, Moncada holds a $5 million contract with the Angels for the upcoming 2025 season, and he testified that the Angels planned to provide only 20% of his original contract post his relocation to the U.S.
The arbitrator ultimately awarded $4.25 million in damages, along with $500,000 in attorney fees, leading to a total exceeding $7 million due to accumulated interest over time.
“This ruling underscores the protections players have under MLBPA regulations,” Schieve expressed. “We remain committed to pursuing justice for those who exploited Yoan during his transition from Cuba to Major League baseball years ago.”
