The Moose is back with Brewers
Milwaukee and Mike Moustakas reportedly reach agreement on 1-year deal.
PHOENIX - Stop us if you’ve heard this before.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ second base picture has changed with the addition of third baseman Mike Moustakas.
That was the situation at the July 31 trade deadline last season, and it was deja vu Sunday when Moustakas reached agreement with the Brewers on a one-year deal for a reported $10 million, including a mutual option for 2020.
The Brewers did not announce the agreement because it is pending a physical examination. But it did not qualify as even a mild surprise because the return of Moustakas to Milwaukee had been strongly rumored for some time as he remained on the mostly stagnant free-agent market.
Moustakas, 30, spent time over the winter with Brewers outfielders Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun, helping them with the “California Strong” movement that raised money for victims of that state’s wildfires. He was a good fit in the clubhouse last season and teammates said they would welcome his return, including Travis Shaw, who moved to second base to accommodate Moustakas in 2018.
“Moose is a great guy, and if he came back here, I would welcome him with open arms,” said Shaw, who has become a good friend.
Yelich, who also has grown close to Moustakas, said this before word of the agreement leaked: “Obviously, he was a great addition to this team last year in the second half.
A great player, a great clubhouse guy, and he definitely helped us on the field... Obviously, he only makes us better.”
This was the second consecutive winter that Moustakas failed to get the multi-year deal he was seeking as a free agent. After turning down a $17.4 million qualifying offer from the Royals following the 2017 season, he ended up back in Kansas City for a guaranteed $6.5 million.
Moustakas did not exercise his half of a $15 million mutual option with the Brewers after last season but the team was not expected to do so, either, if it
came to that. It remains to be seen how much of the $10 million deal will be allocated to a buyout of the 2020 option to get some of the money off the books this year.
The Brewers already were stretching their payroll to about $120 million or more, by far the highest level in club history, so they may opt to trade a salary, such as the $6 million committed to first baseman Eric Thames, now a backup at the position.
It also remains to be seen if this means Shaw again will be the primary second baseman. Moustakas never has played that position but neither had Shaw until last season. Manager Craig Counsell could opt to see how Moustakas looks at second to see if he could share time with Shaw at two positions.
In 52 games with the Brewers last season, including 50 starts at third base, Moustakas batted .256 with a .326 on-base percentage and .767 OPS. He hit eight home runs and drove in 33 runs.
Overall, including his time with Kansas City, Moustakas batted .251 in 152 games, with a .315 OBP, .774 OPS, 28 home runs and 95 RBI.
Before opting to bring back Moustakas, the Brewers were prepared to hold an open competition in spring camp for playing time at second base. The main candidates were holdovers Hernan Perez and Tyler Saladino, and newcomer Cory Spangenberg, signed as a free agent over the winter.
The Brewers thought Spangenberg, 27, would be a good fit for two primary reasons – his left-handed bat and defensive versatility.
“I’ve played everywhere but first base and catcher during my career. I’ve been all over the place,” said Spangenberg, who split time equally last season between second base and third base while dabbling a bit in the outfield for the San Diego Padres.
“It’s just about getting a lot of (repetitions) at the different positions. Second base is where I came up through the Padres’ system. Everyone wants to be the every-day guy. If I said otherwise, I’d be lying to you.”
Pérez, whose value to the club has been his ability to play all over the infield and outfield, made 25 starts last season at second base, his most at any position. It’s not easy to stay in a groove offensively coming off the bench, and he struggled more in that category in 2018 than in previous seasons, compiling a .676 OPS, his lowest since 2015.
Pérez revealed a factor in that slippage after reporting to camp this spring. He played most of last season with a bone chip in his left wrist, which was removed surgically afterward. Now, he is looking forward to competing for playing time at second base.
“I know that’s a spot where I can play every day if I do my job, and that’s my goal,” he said. “I’m going to work hard, try to do my best and show better discipline at the plate. I’ve been too aggressive and chased too many balls. I want to still be aggressive but with strikes, not chasing balls. That’s my goal.”
Saladino was given a chance to see regular action at shortstop last season when slump-ridden Orlando Arcia was sent to the minors in late May. He caught fire at the plate and was batting .324 with three homers and eight RBI over 16 games when he suffered a badly sprained ankle and was sidelined for more than a month.
Saladino saw little action in the second half as the Brewers’ personnel changed. Arcia later returned to shortstop and Shaw began seeing time at second base after the addition of Moustakas in late July.
Saladino made only one start at second base but is looking forward to getting the chance in exhibition play to show he can handle the position and be productive. He worked out much of the offseason in Southern California with Yelich and Braun to get in peak physical condition for that challenge.
“I just wanted to get in the best shape possible and prepare for spring,” Saladino said.
Two of the Brewers’ top prospects will see action at second base during spring camp, also, but general manager David Stearns has said both will begin the season in the minors. No. 1 prospect Keston Hiura, considered a can’t-miss offensive talent, has yet to play at the Class AAA level, and Mauricio Dubon, equally adept at playing shortstop, missed most of 2018 with a torn ACL.
The presence of Hiura and Dubon in the system played a role in Stearns’ decision not to pursue an established second baseman on the market. In the interim, Spangenberg, Pérez and Saladino will get to show what they can do.