The Brewers announced Tuesday that third baseman Mike Moustakas and right-hander Joakim Soria have both declined their half of their 2019 mutual options. Moustakas’ option came with a $15MM value, while Soria’s was worth $10MM. Both players received a $1MM buyout and are now free agents.
[Related: Updated Milwaukee Brewers depth chart and payroll outlook]
Moustakas, who turned 30 last month, was traded from Kansas City to Milwaukee prior to the non-waiver trade deadline (in exchange for Brett Phillips and Jorge Lopez) and went on to hit .256/.326/.441 with eight homers in 218 plate appearances as Milwaukee’s primary third baseman. On the season as a whole, the longtime Royals slugger hit .251/.315/.459 with 28 long balls and 33 doubles.
It’s the second consecutive quality season at the plate for Moustakas since returning from a 2016 ACL tear, and it’s bold, to an extent, to see him turn down the guaranteed $15MM he could’ve secured (if the Brewers were similarly comfortable paying him at that rate, which isn’t a given). Moustakas and agent Scott Boras found extremely limited interest in free agency last winter on the heels of a superior offensive season to the one he just concluded.
It’s certainly possible that Moustakas turned down some multi-year offers early in free agency and was ultimately forced to settle for his eventual one-year, $6.5MM deal after those suitors pursued alternative options. But now that he’s a year older and coming off a worse season with a relatively characteristic platoon split, it’d be hard to say that Moustakas did anything to truly elevate his profile in 2018. It’s true that he can no longer be saddled with a qualifying offer, which unquestionably sapped his market last offseason, so at the very least he’ll have that burden lifted as he explores the free-agent market for a second time.
As for Soria, the final season of his three-year, $25MM pact (also signed with the Royals) was arguably the best of the three. In 60 2/3 innings, the 34-year-old pitched to a tidy 3.12 ERA while averaging 11.1 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and 0.59 HR/9 with a 35.7 percent ground-ball rate. Despite the fact that he’s entering his mid-30s, Soria posted the best swinging-strike rate (14.4 percent) and opponents’ chase rate (34.1 percent) of his impressive career. With that type of swing-and-miss ability in his back pocket, he’ll likely have little trouble topping the $10MM guarantee he’d have been promised had he instead accepted the option.
Can’t imagine turning down $15 million
Looking for a multi year deal and there’s LOTS of money to spend this offseason.
He didn’t get one last year, I find it hard to believe that he’s going to get one this year.
I think he will and I’m not a fan anyway. Most of last year free agent lack of spending was based on the normal top of the market teams resetting their luxury tax penalties I think.
I think it was due to be tied to a qo he might get one now but it will lower than 15 mil a year
He’ll get one this year. He doesn’t have the QO attached and he doesn’t have a bunch of teams trying to reset their luxury tax penalties. He apparently was well liked during his time in Milwaukee. Wouldn’t surprise me if they bring him back.
Except the major spenders who limited their spending after 2017, the Dodgers and Yankees aren’t likely interested this year either in Moose. He may get a two or even three year deal but at a lower average value. The main reasons I can see in turning it down is he gets to choose where he’s going and there is not tge further embarrassment of having the Brewers TURN HIM DOWN.
Not a chance he retired to Milwaukee. Sorry but that mythical season ended….and isn’t going to return.
Can you see the future?
Yeah, he’s going to regret that when he ends up signing for 2/18 or 1/10.
I think you’re completely correct. Even 1/8 or 2/15.
Except for the fact that the brewers were never going to accept their end of the mutual option, so it’s a moot point
He’s not signing a 1 year deal. He wants stability. Plus, the Brewers weren’t picking up their end of that anyway so this discussion is pointless.
not necessarily, you might as well put the ball in their court and let the team make the call unless you really don’t like playing there and can’t stand another year. the 15mm is a guarantee if you get it and who knows what the market is going to bring this year.
As others have said, the team likely told him they were not picking it up. His rejecting it saves face for him, others and the union. How many players have gotten a better deal after their last team declined an option?
There was absolutely no way the Brewers were going to do their part of it, so nothing to regret.
Especially when you’re a league average player
His WAR in 2018 was 2.5,
Kris Davis was 2.6. Miguel Andujar was 2.7.
Are you saying both those guys are league average players? Or do you just have no idea what you’re talking about?
Like people who use WAR as if it’s a real stat?
Andujar’s defense made him have an average season. Yeah.
Davis K’d 38483 times, cant really defense and hits for a low average. Homers dont make you good
Andujar had a far better than average year even including his defensive challenges. Billy Martin had he been around would have stressed his batting even after a night of drinking. His nastiness would like always had been reserved for Steinbrenner, Jackson and Munson…
Yea I’m right there with you. Especially when I don’t know how they are going to get more on the open market u less their agents know something we don’t
Moose is good, and would be valuable to a team like the Padres. But – he’s not as good as he and his agent thinks he is. IMO, it was incredibly dumb to leave $15MM on the table. I don’t think he gets that kind of deal anywhere.
However, it was “mutual,” so who knows … the Brewers may have turned him down.
Maybe he knew the Brewers were going to decline and this was a face-saving move.
Quite possible. Maybe even Brewers told him as such so he could turn down his side instead making it look like he has more value then he actually has. Would be well played move by Moose and classy move by Brewers.
You never, ever hear of one side accepting the offer and the other declining. This is common practice by every team in MLB.
I have to guess he’s shooting for a multi-year deal. I also have to guess he knows he won’t get a $15M AAV on a multi-year contract. Seems like he’s banking on extra years over immediate cash. Had it been me or a client of mine, I’d have advised he try to opt in to that deal, though as you mentioned, the Brewers might have done the classy thing and whispered to him that they had no intention of picking up that option.
He didn’t turn it down because the Brewers weren’t giving it to him anyway.
Can’t believe Soria turned that down! Hell be lucky to exceed that for 2 years. He’s old.
Remember the “mutual”, Brewers prob turned it down
“The Brewers announced Tuesday that third baseman Mike Moustakas and right-hander Joakim Soria have both declined their half of their 2019 mutual options.”
Each player turned down their half first. I dont think he’s expecting to earn more money in free agency
Ahhhh misread that. My bad guys!! Forgive me lol
Never
Nobody who has paid any attention to the Brewers thought there was a chance in hell that they would pay either of these players the “mutual option” amount. If either gets that amount over TWO years, I believe they’ll be doing well.
That was rude. He just misread it. Then acknowledged that. Easy killer
Soria’s next contract will pay well over $10MM.
He’s 34. Pat Neshek got $16.25MM last year as a 37-year-old. Ryan Madson signed for three years and $22MM at 36.
I’d be shocked if Soria doesn’t easily top $10MM and wouldn’t even consider another three-year deal out of the realm of possibility (though I personally find two likelier).
Hard to imagine Soria getting more than the $10 million that he turned down.
I think it’s a slam dunk that he’ll top it. He had a legitimately excellent season, was very good the year prior, is hitting the market at a time when bullpen help is in greater demand than ever, etc.
Good points. He likely won’t get $10 mill AAV, but he could get 2-3 years and make more than $10 million in total.
Anthony Swarzak got 14 million over 2 years last offseason. He was younger and was more dominant than Soria was this past season. I’m guessing Soria gets less than Swarzak received.
Swarzak is a very poor comparison considering he was a highly volatile commodity his entire career and has no where near the track record Soria has. MAdson and neshek Are much better comps. Even Addison reed would be a closer comp than swarzak and he received nearly 17 over 2 years.
Soria will absolutely top $10-mil.
2 years, $11-mil.
Whoever decides to give a cent more than $10-mil for 1 year to Soria should hand in their resignation a minute after the signing.
And that’s based on what? Besides your meaningless opinion?
Based on a 35 year old fading reliever. But hey, if your favorite team wants to spend $10-11 mil on Soria go right ahead. You would be better served using that money elsewhere.
Every opinion is meaningless on here. That is why we come here to serve it.
If I was Soria I’d at least put the decision on Milwaukee’s part. I’m sure the Brewers would have turned down their half, but at least he’d have a shot at the $10 million.
Some players think waaaaaaaaay too highly of themselves.
Coming off a 2.23 Fip and 2.44 FIP season respectively. 34 years old. Is his opportunity for a multi year pact every going to be better than it is now?
Agree with jbigz on this one. He’s probably looking at 2/30. Probably not more than 2 years though.
When I read that, the first name that came to mind was Machado.
Cards in on Moose should they not sign Donaldson? Can’t go with Carpenter….could they?
Moose can’t get on base at a decent clip. Carpenter is a horrible 3rd baseman. Donaldson is a decent get on a 1 year deal.
Moustakas has to be banking on being a rebound option for whoever doesn’t sign Machado. Might be a smart move with so many teams freeing up many for the free agency circus
Soria won’t get more than that. He may get 10m total on a 2 or 3 year deal
The market did not change significantly for 3B from this year to last. I see Moustakas signing late again with a team like PIT (which is exactly what they did with David Freese a few years ago).
Moose will get his deal. Angels moved kinsler so they can slide cozart back over to 2nd. He makes a ton of sense there at 3rd. (As he did last year) it’s not going to be a big deal but I think he should be able to get a 3/30.
Brewers were gonna turn both these down….just because it says the players turned their half down doesn’t mean Milwaukee was going to accept it.
Player looks better if he declines their option as opposed to the team dumping them.
Moose made an odd choice (although maybe he knew the Brewers weren’t going to pick up their side and was looking to save face). He has a decent chance of getting a multiyear contract with a total value of more than $15M. Remember. last year MLBTR tagged him for 5 years and a total of $85M. But he could also end up his career with year to year contracts for a lot less that $15M AAV
Moose is fairly young, a solid defender and a power left handed bat. He will find someone to pay him. There are a bunch of teams that will have interest… Yankees, Indians, White Sox, Twins, Angels, Cards, Phillies, Giants, Mets, and Cubs.
That’s a real stretch for some of those teams. Mets already have Frazier at 3rd. Yanks have andujar. Can’t imagine they consider moose an upgrade there. Cardinals may consider moose an upgrade to gyorko but I’m not sure they’d pay more money for a possibly marginal upgrade. Giants are still paying Longo. Cubs have kris Bryant. Indians are on on paper match but they don’t really have the financial flexibility if they intend on signing some outfielders. Perhaps the , chisox, twins, Phillies or angels could be in play.
Yankees weren’t happy with andujar’s defense, they may want to move him to first. Bryant has played quite a bit in the outfield, he may move to a corner outfield spot if a trade is made. Bryant could play third on moses days off. Maddon likes to move his players around. Heck, Bryant could probably play second and move Baez fo short. Carpenter was lousy at third. Guorko can play anywhere. Mets are supposedly in win now mode. They could move Frazier to first and add moose at third.With their pitching, they could use a little more offense in that lineuo.
The Cubs like players who can shift around and Moose would not serve that. Schwarber, Heyward, Happ, Zobrist and Almora all figure to see time in the outfield. You can’t move Bryant out there on a regular basis and give the rest of those guys ABS. The mets wouldn’t move Frazier to first considering he’s a better 3B than moose. They need a first baseman but they have Peter Alonso waiting in the wings and I’d have to think they’d look for a guy whose natural position is first. Gyorko can fill multiple slots but they have a SS and a 2b and a 1b. Moose really isn’t that much of an upgrade to Gyorko. If the cards are in on a 3b I’d expect it to be Donaldson. The yankees could shift Andujar to first but then you move Voit to the bench for Mike Moustakas. I’m not buying that. Maybe Andujar gets shifted for Manny Machado, but for moose? No, dont see it.
Happ may be needed to cover for Russell. Zobrist is getting long in the tooth and is best suited for backup duty. The other 3 have been subject to trade rumors and criticized mightily for lack of hitting.
Frazier is a 33 year old .200 hitter that strikes out over 25% of the time..
Gyorko ? He’s decent. By getting Moose, they can add a power left handed bat that they need. Besides Carpenter, they really didn’t have anyone.
Andujar was TERRIBLE at third last year. He has to improve or get moved. Voit? All of a sudden Voit is unmovable? He was great for 39 games… I have a feeling he might come down to earth sooner than many think.
Zero percent chance the Cubs have any interest in Moose
How about 3/24 for Moose? High or low?
He might get Todd Frazier money for 3 years.
I know Royals are in rebuild mode, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Moose and Soria resign with the team. They could be cheap rentals at least.
I don’t think either one of those guys is interested in a one year deal. Particularly on a team where they know they’ll be dealt somewhere else by July.
Moustakas didn’t get the contract he wanted for the precise reasons he showed in 2018
as a Royals fan I have watched Moose and Soria careers closely. Moose will end up in san Diego. His buddy Hoz has told management about how well they play together. Soria was great first time around in kc. Second time he stunk. Washed up as far as I’m concerned. Any team that pays Moose more than 5 mil a year will regret it. So go ahead Moose sign with san Diego and let your career die on that beach out there like Hoz is doing. Thanks for the memories.
As a Padres fan, I don’t know if I should thank you for the heads up, or talk smack to you.
If Moose does end up in San Diego, two things are certain: Preller will have overpaid, and Moose will forget how to hit.
Moose forgot how to hit last year. I thought he had it figured out 2 years ago in KC when he finally quit trying to pull everything and as a result hit 38 hrs. last year he went back to his old self and tried to pull everything and ducked at the plate. Whoever gets him gets a great defender who tries to hit his every at bat. Good luck getting him to be a complete player.
Moose forgot how to hit last year. I thought he had it figured out 2 years ago in KC when he finally quit trying to pull everything and as a result hit 38 hrs. last year he went back to his old self and tried to pull everything and sucked at the plate. Whoever gets him gets a great defender who tries to hit his every at bat. Good luck getting him to be a complete player.
I can’t see the Padres signing moose. They have a young 3b in villanueva and after how poorly Hosmer did, I doubt they will gamble on moose. Padres could lose a couple players to rule 5 draft. They need to package some young players for a solid major leaguer. I could see a trade with the Cubs for Russell or Schwarber.
Exactly what the Padres need. Another outfielder. They have too many as it is. 0% chance they’re in on Schwarber. Also, what are they going to offer for Schwarber that helps the Cubs win now?
I don’t believe the Padres have much faith in Villanueva. His defense was terrible and he really struggled against right-handed pitching. (189/255/316). He doesn’t get on base – he seems more likely to be traded/non-tendered than be the Padres starting third baseman next year. But Moustakas isn’t the answer. He’s not really that great and he’s not really that young, although 30 isn’t ancient by any means. Plus, I’d assume SD wants to keep 3B open for Tatis, Jr. if he doesn’t prove able to handle shortstop.
The Padres are in trouble…. and Moustakas isn’t the answer. He would be better than anyone they have… but I don’t see him in San Diego. I mean, they are planning on using Wil Myers at third? The Padres are in trouble.
Royals fan here. Exact;y……if he ends up there. On the other hand, Hosmer, what a horrible season he had. He shopped the Royals and the Padres deserve what they got. Thank goodness Royals didn’t sign him! Whit made Hos look like dog meat this year. They keep making excuses for Hos saying he “does well every other year.” So you give someone that kind of a contract for play like that? Good luck with the Padres, they are going nowhere. 4 more years on the contract. Tell me they can get past the likes of the Dodgers and Brewers?!
Last year, there was a draft pick attached to Moustakas. This year, there won’t be. If the Angels can find someone, to take Cozart. He would be a good fit for the Angels. Moustakas could play first, while Pujols recovers from surgery. And play first on days,Pujols needs a day off.
Has there EVER been an accepted mutual option?
well mutual options are weird because the only way it can be accepted is if the player is playing exactly as they are worth – if they are either better or worse than their dollar value one or the other will decline the option.
I could see him in Minnesota if Twins want to move on from Sano.
I think twins are a favorite. They were very disappointing this past season and want to try and challenge the Indians.
I like the idea, but everything the front office has said, at least publicly, points to trying to “fix” Sano.
I don’t know, the Cubs offense fell asleep last year. They could use a little more pop in that lineup.
In the article it states that both players will receive their $1 M buy out. Is this true? My understanding of mutual options and buy outs is that if the player turns it down than the team doesn’t pay the buy out. Why is it different in this case?