The Phillies and Royals have held at least preliminary trade talks involving Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The level of interest is not entirely apparent and there’s no indication at this point that the sides are nearing an agreement. But the K.C. scouting department is said to be taking a look at the Phillies system to identify targets.
With a $5.5MM salary this year and $1MM buyout on a 2019 mutual option, Moustakas is an affordable target. Of course, that’s probably not the chief concern for the Phils, who have been much more willing to burn money than prospect capital of late. In recent years, the club has placed numerous hefty salaries onto its payroll, but in most cases hasn’t packaged significant young talent or taken on long-term financial commitments.
The Philadelphia organization unquestionably has the assets to get Moustakas; what’s not yet clear is whether he’s really the player they want. Firmly in the picture in the National League East, the Phillies are said to be a possible pursuer of top summer trade candidate Manny Machado — a player they may also covet in free agency at season’s end. The club has also been connected to Rangers third bagger Adrian Beltre.
Moustakas, 29, has trailed off at the plate of late after surging to open the year. Still, his .255/.310/.467 slash and 15 home runs through 332 plate appearances fall right in line with his composite work from the prior three campaigns. He has perhaps even been a bit unfortunate; while his .255 BABIP is in line with his unusually low career rate, Moustakas is credited by Statcast with a .383 xwOBA that greatly exceeds his .325 wOBA.
There’s not much mystery at this point as to Moustakas’s profile. He’s got excellent power, middling on-base ability, and not-insignificant platoon splits (which have widened this year). Defensively, he has graded out as a positive this year, but he has mostly played within range of average over his career.
It’ll be interesting to see how the deadline plays out for the Phillies. There are lots of possibilities, both at the hot corner and elsewhere on the roster. As Salisbury indicates, the team may well not show much interest in parting with top prospects to make deals. But few, if any, clubs in baseball can match the Phillies in near and long-term financial flexibility, opening numerous creative avenues to improve a roster that has already looked solid through the season’s halfway point.
I would love to get him as a rental and then just sign Machado this offseason
You just set yourself up to get attacked by all the Cubs/Dodgers/Red Sox fans who think they’re all getting Machado haha
not hoping for Machado, signed a Cub fan.
Where would he even play on the Cubs?
Hey, tell that to most of the ravenous Cubbies fans.
cubs need pitching help not manny imo that’s the biggest weakness i see not there lineup
Hell would have to freeze over before Machado would sign with the Red Sox!
Also not hoping for Machado- a Dodgers fan
Phillies make the most sense of any team, they have gotten little to no offensive production from the left side of the infield, the have a crap ton of money to spend and lots of people in the front office have connections to the Orioles
not to mention delusional Braves fans
I’d rather have Beltre
OF back?
CaseysPartner comment in 3…2…1
You were not incorrect sir
Franco and a prospect?
Franco doesn’t have much value, but neither does half a year of Moose. I’d think that’d be a one for one trade if the Royals wanted Franco. I think they’d prefer prospect fliers though. Franco more likely to be flipped to the Padres after the interest they showed.
So I’m assuming, the rumors about Franco last week were true. If Moose is acquired, Franco would be flipped, Padres were said to have inquired. Something to keep an eye on.
Franco could be part of the return here as well. He still has 3 years of team control, so he might be useful to a team like the Royals.
Nope. Royals should be targeting guys with upside who are a few years out.
for a half year rental, they’ll take what they can get.
Franco still has some upside, he is still young
True but given the choice between the two they’d be foolish to take the guy with less control and upside.
Franco is the perfect guy for KC; Royals are going nowhere and trying to rebuild. Franco either sucks it up for a year or two or has a breakout and you deal him. Not foolish to take him and a minor leaguer for Moose.
Franco definitely makes sense for Moustakas. No denying moose is an upgrade. But With a change of scenery Franco could turn it around and become a guy they could potentially flip next season. They don’t have a decent stopgap 3B sitting in the minors right now, and Franco would at the least be a cheap option.
.310 OBP
Right in line with his career number.
A .310 OBP is a guy I’m trying to replace.
.310 at Kauffman is probably closer to .330 at Citizens Bank.
How? Home runs don’t help your on base percentage, he might have more homers in Philly, but he isn’t going to get on base more.
Fly outs turn into homers which does indeed increase on base percentage
You forgot his power. The 49 RBI. Royals such great team always have men on base for him? They’re 25-55.
Moose got off to an excellent .302/.336/.578 start April before sizzling to — .226/.295/.398 since — He seems streaky, and inconsistent, but with legit power.
I like that he’s a lefty, hitting in one of more difficult stadiums. What you see is what you get, and I think he’d be a good get, who shouldn’t cost too much in prospects. He gets bashed here so much for his OBP, actually think he’s one of most underrated players available for trade.
“What you see is what you get”
A .310 OBP
No thanks.
OBP is the only stat that matters. Forget slugging, forget batting average. As long as the guy walks, he’s a great major leaguer.
maybe moosestakis will get traded to the twins for sano and ervin santana and nick gordon and felix jorge and 5 minor leaguers and will get traded to the whitesox for palka fulmer carlos rondon leury garcia and asvail garcia and aaron bummer or trade dozier to the astros with kepler and if morrison and pitchers gibson and minor leaguers nick anderson and jake reed and milb catcher brian navaretto and of lamonte wade and 2 draft picks and cash for verlander crain humber dallas keuckel and lance mccullers and boshers
Uhhh
Exactly what I was thinking, Joseph! Go Anaheim Ducks!
I lost brain cells
“Moosestakis” was easily my favorite part.
or moose for sano and santana kepler for hamels and colon gibson and garver and minors pitchers nick anderson felix jorge if nick gordon and of lamonte wade and two draft picks in 2019 or cash to astros for verlander cole boshers keuckel and mccullers or dozier cave polanco addison reed zach duke and two other minor leaguers to cubs for gimenez duensing darvish randy rosario strop and quintana and if zobrist
Use periods man. they can help separate all your great ideas. it would stop sounding like nonsense with a few. I mean… probably not but it would help
Bruh put on the ps4 control and step away from mlb the show and enter into the real world lol
Did someone forget their meds?
We all have done stupid things on the job I’m sure. Obviously Manny did too by not running out a play. Other than that a joy to watch play baseball. I kinda hope a team like the Cardinals with their great fan base get him.
Moose and Danny Duffy for Franco, Franklyn Kilome and Jhayln Ortiz
Please. Lol.
No way am I giving up Ortiz for them.
Franco, Kilome, Moniak, and a 20ish system prospect.
I need more… more… more JOSEPH RAY MEYER!!!!
I think Moustakas is enough of an upgrade over Franco to make a deal worthwhile. It’s clear PHI has run out of patience with Franco and are ready to move on now. Take the buyout on Moose after the season if they’re determined to land Machado or keep him if Manny remains determined to be a SS in the near term.
One thing is certain: Josh Donaldson is NOT on anyone’s radar currently.
You could keep moose next year and leave Crawford as a utility guy for another year.
Im cool with this as long as we don’t give up a ton.
or trade dozier and santana and may for moose and gordon
and trade lynn and mejia to whitesox for the two garcia’s.and fulmer
trade busenitz reed and milb jake reed and two draft picks to cubs for lester chatwood and gimenez and cash.
or trade kohl stewart and c mitch garver and polanco and three draft picks to astros for correa mccan and verlander.
or trade zack duke and minors arms anderson and jorge to rangers for colon and hamels
trade thorpe and gordon and belisle to white sox for palka and shields and jose abreu or trade dozier, santana jorge thorpe and may to yankees for stanton sabathia castro and warren
trade dozier may santana jorge thorpe and anderson and belisle to red sox for nunez pomeranz sale pearce and porcello and bogartz
Moose’s tattoo is tight lol