Reds sign Moustakas

[757690]

$16M a year is about the going rate for a league average MLB starter at any position. I don’t see it as an overpay, just paying retail, instead of bargain shopping.

[JaxRed]

Well, some perspective....Grandal got $2M more than Mous and he was 0.7 bWAR lower.

And another.... although 31, at the end of this contract Moose will still be a year younger than Joey is now.

[WrongVerb]

17.1 bWAR over 9 seasons, gives an average about 1.9 bWAR/season. (probably a bit higher due to missed time)

That means the Reds are paying approx. $8.2M/bWAR, which I believe is under the average for most free agents.

That said, I am not a fan of giving 30+ year old players expensive LTCs. I suspect this will end up similar to the Phillips deal.

[Tom Servo]

The Reds aren't in a position where they can improve the team via FA AND make some really bargain deals at the same time. It's their time to move and they are going to have to pay to do it. This is a good signing. It's not without risk, but we've seen the "low risk" approach enough around here. Good job making a clear improvement at a weakness. Don't overthink this Redszone.

This is essentially where I come down on it. It's not my money for one thing, and the reported figure isn't so high that the extra few million a year more will greatly harm any of the 2020-2023 teams. He's a good bat, I'm not gonna quibble too much over the details.

[BluegrassRedleg]

Outstanding. Big upgrade and at a reasonable price.

WTG, front office. I am pleasantly surprised.

[Kc61]

Good move. Love those FAs. Reds maybe overpaid but probably had to do so. I thought MM might go back to the west coast.

This could imply Reds won’t go after Didi, assuming they see Galvis as a regular player. But you never know.

Reds needed another lefty bat. This is the replacement for Scooter’s good years in the lineup. Nice.

[westofyou]

On base challenged, hit's HRs

Just the type of guy I'd give two years to, not four... not my money though

[BluegrassRedleg]

Well alrighty then.

1b Votto
2b Moustakas
SS Galvis
3b Suarez
LF Winker
CF Senzel
RF Aquino
CA Barnhart

Still gotta have another major OF upgrade IMO.

[Tom Servo]

Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan

And they're not done, either. The Reds have plenty more money to spend this winter and they see the National League Central as ripe for the taking. Remember, too, their rotation, with Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Anthony DeSclafani, is already very good.

[huber14]

$16M a year is about the going rate for a league average MLB starter at any position. I don’t see it as an overpay, just paying retail, instead of bargain shopping.

The league average is $4.5 million. Most players are obviously starters.

[DocRed]

Also FWIW Kiley McDaniel at Fangraphs predicted $16M a year (although only for 2 years). Also Ozuna is predicted to be around $16-18M a year over 4 years, and I would rather have Moustakas. Not sure why everyone else's predictions were so low in retrospect.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2020-top-50-free-agents/

[WrongVerb]

Still gotta have another major OF upgrade IMO.

From where though? I see Winker and Aquino both becoming stalwarts next year. But I would trade Aquino for someone like Mancini in the right deal.

Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
And they're not done, either. The Reds have plenty more money to spend this winter and they see the National League Central as ripe for the taking. Remember, too, their rotation, with Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Anthony DeSclafani, is already very good.

Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
Based on current roster, this is what the 2020 Reds' lineup could look like:
CF Nick Senzel
1B Joey Votto
3B Eugenio Suarez
2B Mike Moustakas
RF Aristides Aquino
LF Jesse Winker
C Barnhart/Casali
SS Freddy Galvis

12:55pm · 2 Dec 2019

[Sea Ray]

I think this is an overpay on a guy coming off a career year. Is 2B really the position worth overpaying? I hope it works out but I don't think I'd have done this were I the Reds

[Ladeda]

The Reds aren't in a position where they can improve the team via FA AND make some really bargain deals at the same time. It's their time to move and they are going to have to pay to do it. This is a good signing. It's not without risk, but we've seen the "low risk" approach enough around here. Good job making a clear improvement at a weakness. Don't overthink this Redszone.

I'm pretty sure Tampa and Oakland will find improvements with some bargain deals.


That said, I'm happy they signed Moose but I just don't like the 4 years, or the $16mm per. It's fair to say that he's an upgrade, and the Reds overpaid for him. Both statements IMO are true. It just means that the Reds have a few million less to spend elsewhere. Every dollar counts for the Reds, since they are on a budget, and if you could have saved a few million here or there, then it helps.

On to the next signing.

[Coopdaddy67]

I think this is an overpay on a guy coming off a career year. Is 2B really the position worth overpaying? I hope it works out but I don't think I'd have done this were I the Reds

It wasn't a career year. He's been very consistent over the past several years and moving to GABP should only help his numbers.