The Reds brought on veteran leadership and a power bat in the largest free-agent signing in franchise history.
Coming into the offseason, the fourth-place Cincinnati Reds had a multitude of questions surrounding their approach toward improving the team and gearing up for 2020.
They answered one on Monday.
Reports came out during the late afternoon on Dec. 2 that the Cincinnati Reds and former Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers infielder Mike Moustakas reached an agreement on a contract.
The terms of that contract turned out to be a four-year deal for a total of $64 million. Furthermore, Moustakas agreed to a back-loaded contract paying him $12 million in 2020 and increasing by $2 million progressively.
This gives the Reds even more flexibility to continue bolstering their roster this offseason. First, let’s take a look at how Moose fits with this Reds team.
Moustakas has played in 1,131 games over his nine-year career. In 2019 with Milwaukee, he played 105 games at third base. However, the Reds intend to use Moustakas at second base. He played second base in 47 games with the Brewers this past season.
It was almost obvious that Moustakas would slot in at second with the Reds. The runner-up in the National League home run leaderboard in Eugenio Suarez is not going to move from his position at the hot corner. It can almost be said that Moustakas could slide over to first base on days where Joey Votto is off.
Moustakas brings defensive versatility. He also brings an incredible complement to right-handed slugger Eugenio Suarez given that he is a left-handed hitter. Without former standout lefty Scooter Gennett and no longer a fearsome power hitter in Votto, Moustakas becomes the best left-handed bat on the Reds roster.
In 2019, Moose hit .254 with 35 homers, 30 doubles, a .845 OPS and a 114 OPS+. An above-average hitter in terms of overall hitting prowess (home runs and gap shots), Moustakas is a career .252 hitter with a career on-base percentage of .310. That’s the best, but I believe he can make up for it in other areas, even the intangible ones.
While with Milwaukee last season, he was also named to his third All-Star team. He stood out on a team that played in an ultra-competitive division. This means that Moustakas is already familiar with the pitchers in the NL Central, which should turn out to be a good thing and allow him to continue to produce plus results.
He played in the Wild Card Game against Washington. He was on the Brewers team that went to the National League Championship Series in 2018. He won a World Series ring when he was a staple on the 2015 Kansas City Royals. He has experienced the agony of defeat and losing a crucial Game 7 at home in 2014.
Moustakas brings a lot. He can hit in the middle of the order. He is versatile. He has playoff experience. He can help guide the younger Reds players who are looking to get to the playoffs themselves.
And the Cincinnati Reds got all of this for just $64 million. But, I don’t think they are done making moves this offseason.
