Royals Rumors: Mike Moustakas might be forced into one-year deal
Royals rumors haven’t been as plentiful as Royals fans thought they would be, as a lot of the key free agents are still on the market. That includes former Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas.
What is going on with Major League Baseball free agency this winter? Not only are former Kansas City Royals still on the market, but other key free agents like Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish, and J.D. Martinez are all still unemployed too.
Mike Moustakas is one of those free agents still waiting for a team to sign him and it’s a bit surprising, especially after the year he had in 2017. Moose slashed .272/.314/.521 with 38 home runs and 85 RBI in 555 at bats. He actually broke the Royals’ single season home run record, yet here we are with the guy still being unsigned.
A big reason as to why teams might not want to gamble on Moustakas is that he’s dealt with some injuries over the last few years. He missed most of the 2016 season with an ACL injury and then got dinged up after being hit by a pitch last year, which looked to effect his stance at the plate.
Another reason for Moose still being a free agent is that he only plays third base. That’s prevented teams like the Mets from inking him to a deal because they want some versatility (which makes sense in the National League considering they do the double switch). Moose has also put on some weight over the last few years, which might scare some teams away too.
On Moustakas, the GM says the loss of a draft choice and international bonus pool money could make it prohibitive. Also wants somebody who can play multiple positions.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) February 1, 2018
So, what does the future look like for Moustakas? Well, honestly… He could potentially fall back to the Royals on a one-year deal if no other teams are biting. The only thing to consider here is that if the Yankees also offer Moose a one-year deal, he’d probably be more inclined to take that, as it’s easier to hit home runs in their park than it is in Kauffman Stadium.
More home runs would likely equal a bigger paycheck in the 2019 offseason, so if it comes down to signing a one-year deal in Kansas City or in the Bronx, no one could blame Moose for choosing the latter. It’d be easier for him to pad his stats.
The Yankees have had discussions about Mike Moustakas, though a fit appears unlikely as they look to maintain payroll flexibility: https://t.co/1U3fUJwltz
— MLB Daily Dish (@mlbdailydish) February 2, 2018
If Moustakas does indeed have to take a one-year, then the Royals wouldn’t get the compensatory pick. That’s another reason why teams are shying away from Moose too and it’s not hard to blame them for that.
Teams are skeptical of Moose’s 2017 campaign and still apparently think he has to prove himself before landing a big time contract. Moustakas did start his major league career off slow, not making much of an impact until the 2015 season.
Ever since then though, he’s been an effective player and really doesn’t deserve to have to sign a one-year “prove it” deal. Unfortunately, the market is shaping up for Mike Moustakas to get an underwhelming deal.