All-Star Moustakas set to sign $64M deal with Reds

All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a $64 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, the team’s first move to upgrade a lineup that struggled to score.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the agreement had not been announced.

For the second consecutive offseason, the Reds are making a splurge in free agency as they try to shake themselves out of a rut of six straight losing seasons. Their first move involves getting a player from the NL Central-rival Milwaukee Brewers. The 31-year-old could fill the Reds’ hole at second base that opened when Scooter Gennett got hurt and then was traded last season.

Cincinnati scored the fourth-fewest runs in the NL last season despite one of the league’s most hitterfriendly ballparks. Bulking up on offense, stabilizing the outfield and overhauling the bullpen are the

Reds’ priorities in the offseason.

Moustakas is a first step toward fixing the offense. He hit .254 with 35 homers and 87 RBI this year, making his third All-Star team.

COMING, GOING

Former All-Stars Blake Treinen, Aaron Sanchez

and Addison Russell

became free agents along with current Gold Glove second baseman Yolmer Sanchez when their teams failed to offer 2020 contracts rather than make them eligible for salary arbitration.

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez and third baseman Maikel Franco

became free agents when the Phillies did not offer them contracts.

Cleveland acquired catcher Sandy Leon from Boston for a minor leaguer, and San Diego obtained second baseman Jurickson Profar from Oakland for a prospect.

All-Star catcher James McCann agreed to a $5.4 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.

Seattle failed to offer a contract to infielder Tim Beckham, who has 32 games remaining on a drug suspension, and San Francisco let go outfielder Kevin Pillar.

OUT IN CHICAGO

The Cubs cut ties with Russell one year after he was suspended for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy. Russell was an All-Star in 2016 and a key contributor to Chicago’s World Series title that year.

Russell was banned for 40 games last offseason after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. The 25-year-old returned to the Cubs in May and batted a careerlow .237 with nine homers, 23 RBI and a .699 OPS. Russell earned $4 million in 2019 and was likely to gain a raise in arbitration.

“We decided to nontender Addison Russell today simply because the role we expected him to play for the 2020 Cubs was inconsistent with how he would have been treated in the salary arbitration process,” Cubs executive

Theo Epstein said.

MLB began an investigation in 2017 after allegations against Russell became public.