7:47pm: Moustakas and the Royals are “close” to hammering out a reunion, per Heyman and his colleague, Robert Murray (Twitter link).
7:33pm: The sides are “working toward an agreement,” per MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan (via Twitter). It’s expected to be for a short term, he notes, with the likelihood being that it would cover just a single season.
7:20pm: The Royals have re-opened talks with free agent Mike Moustakas, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. There’s said to be “some hope” that talks will lead to an agreement, with Heyman adding on Twitter that K.C. has issued an offer.
There has been little prior indication that Kansas City would be a likely landing spot for its long-time third baseman. Moustakas, who had been with the Royals since they took him with the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, declined a qualifying offer at the end of the 2017 season. Thus far, however, he has yet to find a new home after encountering a market that was not been as welcoming as expected.
Perhaps the most interesting question is just what kind of contract scenario the sides might be discussing. While Moustakas obviously set out seeking a multi-year arrangement with a hefty guarantee, the Royals are surely uninterested in a massive commitment. Indeed, GM Dayton Moore recently told Rustin Dodd of The Athletic (subscription link) that the organization intends “to be pretty consistent” with not doling out multi-year contracts this winter.
The Royals, of course, recently struck reasonably-priced, one-year arrangements with Lucas Duda and Jon Jay, signaling that the club is still interested in boosting its on-field product for 2018. But signing Moustakas would also mean losing the ability to recoup a compensatory draft pick were he to sign elsewhere, and it’s at least fair to wonder whether the team would actually be better-suited attempting to secure a player of his talents on a lower-AAV, multi-year pact. Then again, Moustakas himself may prefer to take what he can get for a single season and re-enter the market again next winter, despite the attendant risks.
At 29 years of age, Moustakas is still youthful enough to be of interest to organizations that aren’t fully committed to competing in the near-term. Of course, he also isn’t particularly youthful and carries a skillset that is no longer commanding top dollar. Moustakas smashed 38 long balls last year, but also managed only a .314 on-base percentage that sits only slightly higher than his marginal .305 career rate. His once-sparkling defensive metrics at third base have also declined of late.
Make it happen. One-year deal $17.4MM+
I seriously doubt that would happen because I just don’t think anyone would be bidding against them at that high an AAV. I think one year at $12 million is more likely.
I am actually expecting the offer will be more along the lines of 1/10 or maybe 2/20.
Personally I do not see him as a $17M per year player, and I guess pretty much everyone in baseball agrees with me.
He is a very worthwhile part of the roster, but unless he takes some part of his game up to a higher level he is basically a slightly younger version of Todd Fraizer, and Fraizer scuffed to find offers less than half the $17M above.
I’d be happy to see him back at Kauffman next year, but if Moore pays him more than $10M/yr I will attribute it sentimentality rather than an honest evaluation of Mouse’s market value.
1/10 with a players option for another 10
Jays bid against themselves last year and gave Bautista 18 mil for some reason.
Royals need to understand Moose doesn’t have any options so there’s zero reason to give him anywhere near 17 mil.
If anything moose is worth less to the royals than every other team in mlb because they would much rather have the pick. So unless they believe he will sit out until after the draft no reason to sign him
Like 2 yr 20M compromise. It probably won’t happen, but Moose gets more guaranteed money, albeit over two years than the $17.4MM QO he rejected
I know different circumstances, but reminds me when Howie Kendrick (32 at time) rejected $15.8M QO to re-sign with LA for 2 years $20M.
To add insult to injury, Kendrick’s contract had 2 years of deferals, for total of $5M per year, for 4 yrs.
Does Moose get deferrals, Lol
Spotrac has Moose at 16600AAV, and Cargo at 15000. market value.
more like 1/6. Moose isn’t getting much in this market
He will get more than 1/6M..
No he didn’t. He actually got less.
Oops lol
Clearly Moose would like to go back and take the qo given how this offseason has turned out, but kc has no reason to make that deal.
I’m thinking it might be incentive heavy or have an option or two
Sign him and trade him in July
More like 1 year 6.5 haha
still think the Orioles should sign him if Manny isn’t coming back.
Makes a lot of sense, but we’re talking about Peter Angelos here
Agreed. Orioles should have signed him and traded Manny.
For the life of me, I have no idea why the O’s are not interested
Moose would be a good fit, but the O’s Brain Trust just simply is not interested
And apparently no one else is either.
Plus, I thought the Royals already had their replacement, so why spend all that money when they don’t have to do so?
Not sure the Orioles need yet another home run hitting one trick pony.
O’s have no real 3rd basemen in the pipeline or at least to my liking
Also, some O’s fans, not just me like Moose, then there are those who feel the way you do. However, I think he is more than just a one trick pony, I think he is a good ball player.
Isn’t Mountcastle a third basemen
Well if something makes sense you can expect the Orioles to not do it.
Makes sense. If he goes off again and works on his defense he’ll get a deal next offseason.
1 year, 9 million, Incentives can kick it to 10, Traded at the deadline. Better than waiting until after the draft.
So, White Sox rumors in them being interested in Moose, were all smoke and mirrors? WSox One of the rare-teams, that were linked to Moose.
Unlike other FA’s, I can understand Moose’s hesitancy to a one-year deal.
Next year’s Third basemen Free Agents:
1) Manny Machado
2) Josh Donaldson
However…Imagine how much Moose’s contract would be worth, in comparison to these Star’s prospective contracts, assuming he meets, or exceeds his 2017. Good luck, Moose
If it isn’t a long term deal at a lower AAV I don’t understand why KC is interested. The pick is of far more value to them in a rebuild.
Boras just said he is prepared to wait till June so there is no guarantee of a pick
Now, the Royals should just keep going and get Cobb, Arrieta and Holland and make a run at contention.
You keep saying that. Do you understand how crazy that is?
LOL
Not really. They aren’t an awful team, yknow.
But in such a stacked AL , there is little chance even with those signings they can compete. Other years yes, but not this one.
I’m not saying they are an awful team but why would they throw 10-15M at Cobb, 15-20M at Arrieta and 5-7M at Holland and still not be competitive in the AL Central let alone the AL with the Yankees and Astros. Losing Cain and Hosmer would take any benefit of adding three arms (one of which is on a rapid decline).
But do you understand how payrolls work? They would have to add like 40+million to this years payroll in a desperate gamble to contend. THat is not how it works.
At this point cards should sign him to a one year deal with an option.
Would it make sense for the Phillies to give up on Franco and get him on a one or two year deal? Don’t get me wrong, Im rooting for Maikel, not he’s never been able to put it together yet, and if Moustakis could be had in the right deal, I could just see hi. Being an upgrade. Machado isn’t a lock or anything next year with the Yankees in the picture, so why not move on now if Moose can be had at the right price? At least get some more home runs behind the guys who can get on base like Herrera, Santana, Hernandez. I know the argument has been “give the young guys a chance so we can see what thy can do”, but Franco has had his chance to show us. Has he had enough of a chance?
Well, doesn’t matter now haha.
PhilsPhan, it still probably wouldn’t have made sense for Philly because they would have been sacrificing a pick, which is probably more valuable. I fully expect them to make a run at Machado or Donaldson next offseason.
That’s very true about his QO. But they had already given up a pick for Santana, so the pick given up for Moose would’ve been a higher round. I feel like that at lease makes it less painful to give up. I also expect them to make a run at Machado or Donaldson next year. It’ll be fun to see it all okay out next offseason
At least*
Play out*
The pick would be lower, but then suddenly it’s the loss of two picks, rather than one. I wouldn’t want to lose another pick for a player likely to regress. But I admit he’s more interesting than Franco.
If they sign him at all they sacrifice their rewards for offering the QO – something they wouldn’t be able to do again
So a short term deal makes zero sense. Meanwhile he’s not exactly the type especially this team should be wanting to sign long-term either.
So just illogical that they’re talking to him at all, to be honest
Doesn’t a free agent have to sign a contract worth over 50 million for teams to get picks? It doesn’t seem like he’s gettin that much so that may be part of their motivation
Only to get the best rewards. Here are the rules:
“If a free agent who rejected a qualifying offer signs a contract that is worth at least a guaranteed $50 million in total value, and his previous club is one of the teams that receives revenue sharing, said club will be given a compensatory pick immediately following Round 1 in the next year’s Draft. If such a club loses a free agent for a contract worth less than a guaranteed $50 million in total value, the club will receive a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B (which follows the second round).”
I wonder if KC has concluded the way this is headed they aren’t getting compensation anyway, so see if take half a season to see if they can maybe surprise people and contend, if not dump him and maybe get something useful back.
It does make sense and that’s exactly why it happened.
The Royals will have an opportunity to move him at the deadline for a prospect or two. It could prove to be just as fruitful as a pick. They could do the same with Jay and Duda as well.
The problem is, will he take a one year deal that is less than what he was tendered? That may be tough for his ego, not to mention his relationship with Boras. But OTOH in a market where Frazier only got 2 years at $17 million, how much is anyone really giving him on a one year deal?
Assuming K.C. likes him as a clubhouse leader who they want to keep around (I have no idea if that’s true), does 6 years for something like $60-70million get it done? Although, do you really want to sign a guy to a long term deal that he is going to be unhappy about right from the start?
Probably best thing he could do is call up the Yankees and essentially say I’ll come for one year at a deep discount. Play hard, build up some stats in a great lineup, have a good shot at a ring, and hope that he has a good enough year and builds up good will to generate better demand for next offseason, when he won’t be tied to compensation, and some teams are going to be disappointed they missed out on Machado and Harper.
(And I’m not a Yankee fan, I would hate the scenario I just described, they just seemed like the best fit off top of my head)
Frazier is a good comparison 2/17 means Mike should get 1/8 with incentives. He is not as good a hitter as Frazier but it would be a good marketing move.
A lot of contracts have incentives this year. Only fair Boras,
I doubt it hurts his relationship.
The player is the boss.
I meant does he get pissed at Boras and blame him.
The defense declined because of his wrecked knee. He is a decent player like most of them this year. All wanting to be overpaid. Had he been an East Coast player they would of talked about him like he was a first ballot HOF
Don’t get why Royals don’t use this super weak market to try to lock this guy up long term at a palatable rate.
They gave Gordon 4/72 at 32 years old. They can’t give Moustakas 5/50 at 29 years old?
He’s young enough to be relevant for their next run. Deal Perez who has great value to help reload; keeping Moustakas would lessen the hit to the fans.
Maybe, they learned from Gordon.
He has to be willing to accept 5/50, as well.
Because they know better than anyone that his decline is real & will be sharp
Good for K.C., great baseball town.
The O’s have Jomar Reyes in the pipe that looks very exciting and doesnt really slot anywhere other than third, also Beckam would move over to third if Machado sticks at short. They also don’t need another big power low obp guy in their lineup.
As for the phillies, franco was brought up a couple years too early and will adjust to the mlb. He might not be as great as everyone once thought but it will be a much more cost effective solution than moose.
Only place that would benefit both sides is to the cards for no more than a couple years, and it will probably look matt adamsesque lol
Just agent hype
Waste of time and money. The royals should be in full rebuild mode, which means persuing young minor league talent and building for the future, not blowing big money on moustakas. It became evident that its time for a rebuild when Hosmer packed his bags and headed to San Diego.
Disagree, one year deal & trade at the deadline for a prospect or two aids the rebuild narrative
Look at the Royals farm and MLB team. They don’t really have the ability to get prospects right now in what looks like an extreme buyers market, The Royals are hoping the market corrects itself this season and they will be able to market Moustakas, Duda, Jay, etc for prospects this summer. They are also in a very weak division and if everything went right maybe could be a fringe wild card contender.
Kind of the whole point right? Instead of letting him walk or sit for no compensation sure seems better to try spin him for something at the TDL. On a one year deal make a tremendous amount of sense.
Yes you are correct.
Weird. I can’t see how KC profits from the situation since they have to give up the pick, unless he’s uber-cheap. And, while Moose frees himself from the pick next year, I don’t see how he’s better in 2018, given his demonstrated true-talent level. So why next year when the biggest bucks are going to be vacuumed up by others?
KC gets an upscale placeholder at 3B until the future arrives. Moustakas probably has no other options and has to take what he can get, but for him a 2-year deal enables him to re-enter free agency at 31 after 2019 rather than being in the same position a year from now.
No way they should. But if Royals would give him a 50 mil deal would they still get the draft pick after 1st round?
I do not believe they would get compensated under that scenario
Weird that the Mariner Moose will make more.