Moustakas returns to Brewers
3rd baseman signs one-year, $10M deal with option for 2020
Mike Moustakas fell one win shy of reaching the World Series with the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I think we had some unfinished business after last year,” Moustakas said Tuesday after finalizing a $10 million, one-year deal with the Brewers. “I loved playing here last year. It was a lot of fun. We fell a little bit short, obviously, but I feel like this team can get back to where we were at last year and make a push for the World Series.”
After Milwaukee won the NL Central for the first time since 2011, Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio and his front office have boosted payroll to a team-record of nearly $130 million. They added catcher Yasmani Grandal for an $18.25 million, one-year deal last month and then made the surprise move to keep Moustakas.
“Our ownership group is committed to providing the resources to do the best absolutely job we can,” Attanasio said. “I’m very excited for what this team can do this year.”
Moustakas gets a $7 million salary this year under the deal, which includes an $11 million mutual option for 2020 with a $3 million buyout.
He rejected a $17.4 million qualifying offer from Kansas City after the 2017 season and returned to the Royals in mid-march for a one-year contract that included a guaranteed $6.5 million, then earned an additional $2.2 million in performance bonuses.
The infielder hit .256 with eight homers and 33 RBIS in 54 games for Milwaukee, which acquired him from the last-place Royals on July 27. A 30-year-old left-handed hitter, Moustakas had a .251 average overall with 28 homers and 95 RBIS last year. He struck out for the final out of the NL Championship Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In addition to his base salary, Moustakas would earn $100,000 for winning the Most Valuable Player Award, $75,000 if he finishes second, $50,000 for third, $50,000 for making an All-star team, winning a Silver Slugger, Comeback Player of the Year, the Hank Aaron Award or the World Series MVP, and $25,000 for a Gold Glove or the League Championship Series MVP. yankees: Aaron Judge thinks New York is a championshipcaliber team without Manny Machado. “We weren’t in the position I felt like that we really needed to go out there and grab too many big pieces,” the slugger said after Tuesday’s first fullsquad workout. “We were just in a position where we just needed to add maybe one or two key guys and bring back a couple key guys that are just going to get us over the hump, and I feel like we did that.” The Yankees had met with Machado, but didn’t appear to make a formal offer. “My take on it is, San Diego signed a really great player,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think we have a great club. I think we’re deep. Sitting here last year I felt like we had a really good team. As I sit here today, I feel like we’re a stronger team based on the moves we made this winter.” cardinals: Pitcher Carlos Martinez was shut down for two weeks to build up shoulder strength after an injury-plagued season. Martinez won’t throw before being reevaluated on March 5. orioles: Baltimore claimed lefty Josh Osich on waivers from the Giants and designated infielder Hanser Alberto for assignment. Reds: Cincinnati finalized a minor league contract with infielder/outfielder Derek Dietrich.
Twins: Third baseman Miguel Sano will miss at least the first week of full-squad workouts after he cut his foot while celebrating his team winning the Dominican Winter League championship. Notes: Hours after Manny Machado agreed to a $300 million, 10-year deal with San Diego, Commissioner Rob Manfred said at a news conference that the slow free-agent market is “a little much ado about nothing if in fact those players all sign at the end of the day.” Bryce Harper, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel remain on the market. Manfred said if the top free agents make deals, “it’s kind of no harm no foul.” ... Manfred also said he would like the sport to be able in five years to consider adding a pair of expansion teams in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, and that having 32 clubs possibly could lead to discussion of possible geographical realignment and changes to the postseason format. obituary: Don Newcombe, the hard-throwing Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who was one of the first black players in the major leagues and who went on to win the rookie of the year, Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, has died. He was 92. The team confirmed that Newcombe died Tuesday morning after a lengthy illness. Newcombe pitched eight seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1949-58, interrupted by two years of military service in 1952-53. The righthander helped the Dodgers win their first World Series in 1955, when he had a 20-5 record. He was a four-time All-star and had a career record of 149-90 with 1,129 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA to go with 136 complete games and 24 shutouts. He pitched in three World Series and at age 22 in 1949, he became the second rookie ever to start the opening game of a World Series, striking out 11 Yankees in eight innings.