KC Royals Avoid Arbitration With Mike Moustakas

Dayton Moore stays perfect in avoiding arbitration hearings as the KC Royals and Mike Moustakas work out a two-year deal.

The final piece to this year’s puzzle appears to be in place. Unless the Royals add an additional player via free agency, all of the paperwork is now out of the way and the Royals can fully focus on Spring Training.

Mike Moustakas is coming off of his best season. It looked like he finally figured out that over the right field wall wasn’t the only place to get a hit. He was no longer just a hitter that could hit for power, he had added some opposite field hitting to his game.

Jeffrey Flanagan, the Royals’ beat writer for Mlb.com, tweeted the following about the deal:

This appears to be somewhat team friendly for the Royals. Luis Valbuena and Trevor Plouffe, who both had similar power numbers but were far less impressive in the batting average category, are both set to make more money in 2016 than Mike Moustakas.

Aside from learning how to slap the ball into left field, Moustakas also had healthy splits against left handed pitching in 2015. He batted .282 with 10 home runs against lefties this past season. His batting average is only four points lower against lefties than against righties and he only hit two fewer home runs. His slugging percentage was actually better against left handed pitching.

The Royals have now bought out the remaining arbitration eligible years from both Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain. That means next season they don’t have to go through this process again. If either of those players breaks out, even more than they already have, it could wind up saving the Royals a fortune in arbitration next season.

It also means they were unlikely to work out a long-term contract with either of these players. While they’re both due to hit free agency following the 2017 season, there is nothing that says that has to be the end of their run in a Royals uniform.

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Most of what happens following the 2017 season will likely depend on how successful the team can be for the next couple of years. If the team goes back to the playoffs, and more importantly back to the World Series, for a third straight season the profits should continue to go up for David Glass.

2014 was the first taste of success that Mr. Glass had as owner of the Royals. He had waited over 20 years for the Royals to make the playoffs and when they did he started to hand out some bigger salaries.

If David Glass is now addicted to winning championships instead of making the biggest profit possible, he may be willing to keep lining the pockets of those players that can keep the Royals competitive. Winning is contagious. If there is any doubt, just look what has happened to the city. Attendance records don’t just break themselves after all.

Next: 10 Best Seasons In Royals History

What do you think Royals’ fans? Are you excited ‘The Moose’ will get loose at Kauffman for at least two more seasons? Is David Glass changing his ways? Can anyone possibly wait another day for Spring Training to start? Let me know in the comments’ section below.

All stats provided by www.baseballreference.com. All contract info provided by www.spotrac.com.