The Reds have announced that infield Mike Moustakas has been released. He was recently designated for assignment when the club signed catcher Curt Casali.
The fact that Moustakas has been released was the expected outcome when he was sent into DFA limbo last month. He still has one year and $22MM remaining on his contract, which comes in the form of an $18MM salary and a $4MM buyout on a club option for 2024. Since Moustakas has been injured and/or underperforming for the past couple of seasons, no team was going to take that off Cincinnati’s hands.
Moustakas, now 34, parlayed a strong run of success with the Royals and Brewers into a four-year, $64MM deal with the Reds going into 2020. The first season of the deal went fine enough, as Moustakas hit .230/.331/.468 for a wRC+ of 105. However, the past two seasons have been disappointing, with Moustakas battling various injuries, including a heel contusion and a calf strain, and struggling to produce when on the field. He played just 62 games in 2021 and 78 in 2022, hitting a combined .211/.289/.356 for a wRC+ of 73.
With the Reds starting another rebuild recently, they will be focused on giving opportunities to younger players who can be part of the next competitive window. Jonathan India will get the bulk of playing time at second base while Spencer Steer should get an extended audition at third base. That nudged Moustakas out of his two primary positions. He’s also played a bit of first base, but the Reds will have Joey Votto there and Tyler Stephenson could also be in the mix to keep his bat in the lineup while Curt Casali and Luke Maile handle the catching duties. Given all that, they decided to let Moustakas move on and try to find an opportunity elsewhere.
Moustakas will now be free to sign with any team, with the Reds on the hook for his remaining salary. Any other club that signs him would only be responsible for the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the roster, with that amount being subtracted from what the Reds pay. A similar situation recently played out with Moose’s former teammate in Kansas City, as Eric Hosmer was released by the Red Sox and seems to be joining the Cubs. The Padres will still be on the hook for Hosmer’s salary, making it a fairly low-risk gamble for the Cubs. Moustakas will look for a similar opportunity, joining a free agent market that also includes infielders such as Josh Harrison, César Hernández and Brian Anderson.
No takers. Says a lot. They could have gotten him for a broken pitching machine. Dude is done.
Someone will pick him up for cheap, nobody wanted to be stuck with the $38mil over this and next year is all.
22 million. Doubt that any time would pick up the 20 million option
One could argue he wasn’t worth $22MM even when he was good.
One would be wrong in such argument. Made 3 all star teams and won a WS title. Yes, of course he was projected to have a way better career than 12 WAR.
So overall has he disappointed … yes of course. But he did have seasons where he showed what we all thought he would consistently be. 2-3 seasons where he was worth 22 mil that year. Unfortunately, it wasn’t consistent at all. Now, after the injuries and attrition, yeah he’s probably done.
Every year we hear about these contracts that are utter failures. I won’t mention names b/c the list is too long (I do mention Hosmer). When I worked, I was paid strictly by performance. My question is, why can’t we have more intelligent contracts based on performance, allowing for injury & bad behavior.
The whole Hosmer deal always bothered me. SD ended up complaining about him for years. I wondered how can this guy play for a team that keeps complaining about him? Who is going to perform well under those circumstances?
The whole process seems frustrating to me. Why can’t we tax these contracts & pay our cops, teachers & EMT workers more?
I know I’ll catch hell for this post, but it really is frustrating reading about these foolish contracts.
Reds fan that sees a lot of games.
Moose was significantly overweight and out of shape the last two seasons. That’s the foundation for being unproductive and injury prone…
Why can’t we tax these contracts & pay our cops, teachers & EMT workers more?
Yes, we do tax these contracts now. I just want to see more going to the people who deserve it, not the politicians
@LordD99,
Agreed but, ‘One could argue he wasn’t worth $22MM even when he was at his best.’ would be a more accurate statement. Moustakas has mostly been below average for throughout his career.
maybe he has a substantial stake in Moose Tracks Ice Cream flavors?
“I won’t mention names” proceeds to immediately mention a name. And Hosmer was loved in SD, just because they tried to trade him doesn’t mean they didn’t like him… who exactly was complaining about him?? Curly you are officially the worst poster on this site. You’re batting nearly 1.000 on making absurd points/claims every time you post… I’d think you were trolling if I didnt know better. Stop posting before keep embarrassing yourself
Why can’t we tax these contracts? Ummm we do?? Or you just want to take money from one person to give to someone else based on your subjective opinion? God you have the absolute worst opinions I’ve ever seen, Curly. Big fat yikes…
CBA didn’t slow performance incentives, only participation based ones
Why do you think these contracts are not taxed? Why is there so much discourse about freeagent contracts and the tax rates? Where have you been?
The real and simple answer is that we value entertainment more than anything else.
Entertainment keeps up distracted from our own mortality and how fragile life really is.
They paid him ahead of time for rights to his nickname- knowing he’d balloon like a Thanksgiving turkey
Funny that taxes come up, being that the teams don’t pay any.
I@Curly I agree with the sentiment expressed in your last sentence there but I feel basically as long as these guys ARE taxed appropriately, that’s all I care about (also some people get triggered by mere mention of taxes or the idea that some professions are more worthy than others, which deeply appeals to my trolling side, LOL)
In terms of contracts, well, it’s an entertainment business and there’s a ton of money in MLB. So if the players managed to get their slice of the pie, more power to them:) Firstly, performance based contracts might be a bit tough, considering a sporting career is much shorter than an average workers’. Secondly, in the end any money saved would just be going to owners, not to benefit the sport of baseball as a whole:)
PS. You guys should check out NRL players salaries, hehe. Because Australia is such a small market, the best players get just over 1 million a season, we are talking Aaron Judge calibre ;P)
Exactly how much extra do you pay in taxes?
I would venture to guess they pay more in taxes annually than you or I make in a year…. after taxes.
And after over 100 years of taxes, those who received them still haven’t figured out how to do these altruistic deeds you feel “others” should pay for.
So isn’t a bit naive to believe that by making sure ‘others’ are more taxed that any of ‘your’ problems will be solved anyway?
Why should Mike Moustakis pay for more wars, bailouts and Graft?
@FoxSox
I happily pay whatever amount of tax I’m supposed to pay, personally 🙂
On a broader scale, to me, a) the ABSOLUTE amount of tax one pays is irrelevant – question is, do they pay a fair percentage of income and b) the main question is – as a society, are you collecting enough tax to achieve what you want to achieve? If not, taxes should be raised:)
As for the rest of your questions, I’m from Australia and we managed to use the taxes we collect to have a functioning universal health care system, for instance. Which certainly solves some of my problems and problems of people poorer than me:) i would urge anyone reading this to look at other countries and the way things are done:)
(These are all general thoughts obviously – I have no clue how much tax the Moose pays, nor do I begrudge him using available lawful means to reduce such)
(If anyone starts spouting any malarkey about Australia being a communist country where people are sent to COVID concentration camps for sneezing, all because we are not allowed to carry machine guns/Cruise missiles to defend ourselves from the evil guvmint or whatever, will not be dignified with a response)
@SoxFox Also, I don’t mean to start anything but is this not Exhibit A for people being triggered by mention of taxes? I get that some people just want to pay as low tax as possible or feel frustrated by the current system – I accept that. I feel that you should also accept that some people do believe in taxes as the way forward:) Peace:)
Peace to all and especially you in return.
I am not triggered (you actually somehow brought firearms in to the discussion…) seemingly a dig at a stereotype of Americans), however I find it interesting that people often seek the “enforcement of guvmnt”
(ie. taxation) to enforce their “BELIEFS” upon others.
I assure you that I come to this site to learn about America’s Pastime.
And while I am sure that my dribble is static, it does not preclude me from pointing out the naivete of thinking that any government of men can provide for the common good before they provide for their own good.
If you want change in the world, change. Find others like minded and accomplish your goals. But no man should be forced to submit his life nor the product of his life for the whims or beliefs of others.
Lastly I feel as this particular instance (Moose/pro athlete$) is a particularly horrible.
We are constantly fed this idea of a new, large income, individual and how they should be taxed highly during their limited earning capability.
These teams turn massive annual profits (sans 2020) after paying all the staff, players, management, executives and other expenses. Many don’t pay most taxes and have sweet heart deals with local governments. In the meantime the value of their teams continue to grow year over year.
Yet I’m to believe that the union worker (ballplayer) in the middle is the reason that the billionaires can’t provide teachers with a salary adequate to placate myfellow poster’s belief system.
Lol, I have to admit, that last comment I was making was more making fun of a common belief about Australia encountered online. I once even talked to someone like and they refused to believe that what I was saying was true
No, no, I totally appreciate your opinion. The teams should absolutely pay tax.. it’s kind of insane that they don’t:)
I do appreciate your opinion on taxes in general. We would have to agree to disagree:) I personally still prefer a high(er) tax country like Australia but to each his own *fistbump* 🙂
@FoxSox And I do apologise for the “triggered” comment.. that was probably uncalled for by me:)
Wait what life is fragile? Should I be worried?
@Yoyosoxsox Memento, as they say, mori 😛
Reds fan that sees a lot of games.
Moose was significantly overweight and out of shape the last two seasons. That’s the foundation for being unproductive and injury prone…
Stooge fact;
Lucille Ball acted in the 1934 Stooge short called “Three Little Pigskins”
She was about 12″ taller than the stooges in heels & was drop dead gorgeous.
You are much more fun and entertaining in this lane
I’m wondering if a team picks him up if they then are on the hook for the $4m team buyout for not picking up the option at the end of the season? Because that will definitely limit the interest from around the league. I can’t imagine the Reds would be on the hook for that portion.
No one was trading for him. Now he’s FA for league minimum. He’ll get a spring training invite. He is not too far removed from being quite valuable and I think lefty bats have a resurgence without the shift. He’s a good veteran option for a young non-competitive team this season- I think he’d be a good fit for the Tigers who really don’t have a reliable option at 3B.
Tigers would be a good fit. Cubs fit as well. Others may be Orioles, A’s, Marlins, Brewers, Dodgers, or Giants
He’d also be the best 3B on the White Sox roster, if they picked him up.
And 2nd baseman
No he wouldn’t. He can’t run. He can’t field. He can’t hit anymore. I’d rather roll the dice with moncada at 3B and see what I have in Sosa who at least has upside. Also Garcia we know at least brings a glove to the field.
The Tigers aren’t going to sign any position player, period.
Certainly not Moose who has been a train wreck the last 2 years. Maybe Brian Anderson if he’s still there around spring training…maybe even. I think they will go to the trade market ultimately.
He also plays 2B
If you think Moose is better than Moncada you haven’t followed baseball since like 2019…
Someone will pick him up for cheap, no team wanted him for $38mil over the next 2 years is all.
No team was going to pay his $22Mil salary though. Now they Red’s have to pay him to play for a different team.
I always felt borass screwed over moose with unreasonable salary expectations
I wish someone would screw me over with 22 million dollars!
A/S/L?
Bret screwed Bret!
The no takers has less to do with lack of interest and more to do with not wanting to pay Moustakas full salary. No player on a big money deal ever gets claimed when you can just wait for the inevitable release and only have to pay the league minimum
He’ll still get another shot somewhere, for certain I’d think he’d at least garner a minor league contract from someone…. thought at the time of the signing it was an overpay for his recent years which were much better than the first 7 or so of his career
Cubs?
Already have a lame ex Royal now. Don’t need 2.
Why is Hosmer lame?
Cuz he’s not good at baseball.
He’s light years better than anyone the Cubs had on their forty man…
There are so many anti-Hosmer, anti-Myers, and now anti-Moustakas fans, I really don’t get it either.
I’m a cubs fan and am actually happy we signed Hosmer but he is not better than Happ or ten other guys on the 40 man..but I am happy he is on the team.
I’m not talking about Happ or ten other guys. Hosmer plays one position…
The real reason he’s lame is someone paid 40 million dollars just to get rid of him. Hope you get it now.
Unclemike1526;
The same POBO and owner that gave Hosmer that contract and are paying $40m while he plays for another team just gave Xander Bogaerts $100m more than he was worth even though he’s not really a SS, and that 11 year contract will look like Homers’ around the 6th year.
Those 2 geniuses finally got rid of Hosmer and Myers this year and immediately did the exact same thing, so don’t use them as a measuring stick.
Ouch!I My phone just started playing Bryan Adam’s “Cuts like a Knife”
I misunderstood..you meant first base wise. I thought u meant Hosmer was better than anyone on the whole cubs 40 man roster..my bad
He’ll be somewhere else soon. Wherever Mervis is he’s going to play so it makes no sense to bring him up and sit him behind a lame duck like Hosmer. And to be a DH you actually have to be a hitter so that leaves him out there also. I wish he was somewhere else now. Anywhere else for that matter. Still hoping he fails the physical. Fingers crossed!
I’m anti Hosmer because he is a poor fielder and no better than average at anything else. 1B is becoming one of the least expensive positions, but you still don’t want to fill it with an average or below player. Its still a power position for the offense. Even after the poor first year from Torkelson, I would still prefer seeing Hosmer on another team because there is not even the hope of getting better than average from him.
Speaking of failed physicals, how’s that Mets signing going?
Oh, you’re that kind of fan. Got it.
I’d love to see your stats.
Absolutely. Round out the roster with castoffs. Much like 2022.
Sounds like an expansion team. Probably better than A’s, Reds, Pirates, Marlins and Rockies.
That’s a possible landing spot
Sox?
Orioles?
Do they need a 2B or 3B? I know a lot of positions are in flux for the O’s but I thought they were already considering trading Mateo. I could be wrong though…
They are looking for IN Lefty bats. He can play 3rd/2nd/1st, so that’s kinda in the wheelhouse.
Your right, they have a lot of players already set for the IF. I suspect a trade is coming to move some of the IF/MLB depth. Idk, Hosmer was connected to BAL, so this feels similar.
Depends on if Gunnar is going to play SS or 3rd. Mateo isn’t the answer at SS and I’d rather see Moose than Urias or Mateo at 3rd.
Mateo is gonna be the main SS, he went for okay, to very, very good at SS as the year went on. His speed plus arm are tremendous.
That’s not to say Gunner isn’t very gifted at SS, he sure is, and Urias just won a GG at 3rd, but how they position those 2 (3rd/2nd) seems almost moot…it’s a win either way.
Seems like a trade is coming to help settle the team positions, though
O’scanyousee,
Mateo is a good player! ExYankee, part of the package to get us Sonny Grey, the best example of a player that ABSOLUTELY couldn’t play in New York.
The Moose is officially loose…
Northern Exposure?
Unfortunately he’s got company in washed players.
I’m sure most if not all players in baseball are washed at some point.
Nashville Nobody’s?
Portland Posers?
Tulsa Tankers?
Hello? Is this thing on?
Fresno Fatheads?
Tigers? If a ball is hit to third base there will be no one to field it!!
At this point Moustakas should probably limited to 1B/DH. 3B as a stopgap and 2B only in an emergency.
There’s this top prospect with the Tigers named Ryan Kreidler, who will be better than either Moose, or Brian Anderson.
A reunion with Kansas City maybe?
Possible but they are pretty set with Lopez, Mondesi, Massey and Witt in the IF.
After his Weight Watchers appointment.
I really expected more when we signed him. I hope he catches on some where else and does well
more weight? more injuries?
I just think he’s a minor league deal guy at this point. He’ll certainly get an opportunity somewhere
He’ll be a good minor league depth signing for a lot of teams. Get some ABs in, stay healthy, maybe get or force an opportunity midway through the season. No risk, decent reward.
Orioles should gamble on the Moose!!!!
Since the Dodgers picked up Jason Heyward, they’ll be in on Moose. They collect lefty reclamation project bats.
And, the Dodgers have a pretty good success rate!
Horrible contract. Feel bad for the Reds.
Why? They’re the ones who offered the contract?
The Reds aren’t the ones who put on 40 pounds and quit trying to play baseball. Err… we’ll at least they didn’t put on 40 pounds.
because his fat@$$ laid a big egg!
Now that he is officially available for league minimum, I expect multiple teams will offer him a major league deal. Both of the Sox teams make sense (Red & White) if they think he can play a passable 2nd base. Plus, he’s not a bad veteran to have on the bench to play a utility role for a lot of teams. He should get signed rather quickly now that he’s available at league minimum.
Well he absolutely cannot play a passable second base, so you’ll have to scratch that idea…
Probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for the White Sox to sign him. Maybe he can find something in the tank and he’d provide a lefty bat too.
In related news, the White Sox just found their 2B
Lol no. Moustakas could barely play 2B three years ago WITH the shift. There’s zero chance he can play there now. Absolutely not.
Moustakas has .961 career ops in PNC park
Lets go bucs!
Brewers?
Pro sports is a harsh business at times…not that we need to feel sorry for a guy that has been paid that well over time. But when you look at a fading former starter such as Moose, him catching on and getting playing time is not as easy as it might appear to be on the surface.
When I look at my Phils and their bench and their weaknesses, one might posit that Moose could be a fit as a role player with some upside. However, even at the league minimum, do we want him? For me, not over Sosa…and maybe not over Maton or even Guthrie. There is value to seeing what the youngsters might be able to do if they get some exposure, and each of them has shown some upside. If you bring in the veteran, chances are that you are determining that those youngsters are not worth a spot at any point.
The reality is that it is tough to rely on young bench guys when you are in the middle of a competitive window. But more often than not when they bring in that aging vet it doesn’t work any better…and oftentimes worse…than sticking with the young player that can also grow into a bigger role over time.
I saw him once last season and he made a lazy baserunning error. Opening day
I was at the game when he hit his # 200 homerun last season. He then celebrated with his 200 consecutive meal at Golden Corral buffet.
he then proceeded to twist his ankle, running to the desert bar.
I’m curious how player/club options work with a DFA. If a player executes a player option after being picked up by a new team, does the original team still pay for it or the new team? Inversely, if Moustakis has a great year and the acquiring team decides to pick up the club option, does the acquiring team pay for that option or the original team? What about the buy out if the option is declined? Thanks MLBTR community!
Post-DFA, the contracting team (the Reds in this case) is on the hook for the entire contract and obligations. Any acquiring team would be limited to offering the League Minimum only and this total (roughly $720k) would be deducted from the Reds’ obligations. If released, the acquiring team goes back to owing nothing and the entirety of the contract reverts back to the contracting team.
I understand that part. But I suppose my question directly relates to the options. If I’m an acquiring team, can I exercise the option and stick the other team with the bill? That doesn’t seem right.
The Reds chose to stick themselves with the bill. They’re on the hook for all contractual obligations, sans minimum wage if he’s on a 40 Man. Does Moose have a future Player Option? I honestly don’t know the particulars of his contract. Aloha!
@Andy Moose does gave a club option for ’24 at $20M with a $4M buyout (paid by the Reds). But no the acquiring team can’t stick the Reds for his ’24 salary if they decide to exercise it. New team would be entirely responsible for that.
Thanks! And I assume if they decline it the Reds would have to pay the buyout.
Yes, you guys are correct. Thanks for the pinch-hit YBC.
A new team doesn’t acquire his old contract, they sign a new one for league minimum. The option terms are only with CIN. I guess, theoretically, they could activate the option in ’24 and put him back on the MLB roster.
“The first season of the deal went fine enough, as Moustakas hit .230/.331/.468 for a wRC+ of 105.” It’s kind of interesting commentary about the cost of free agent contracts where that line would get a “fine enough” on a 4 year $64M deal.
That contract was a crud show the moment it was signed. What on earth was Cinci thinking? Still I think Moose can bounce back and have a good season if he can stay healthy.
Imagine your career has fallen so far that you’re actually released in favor of Curt Casali.
don’t sell Curt short there – he works really well with pitchers
Let’s hope he retires with dignity rather than linger pathetically.
I can see the Cubs signing him… He can platoon/DH with the Mervis/Hosmer (both left handed) at first, get in some games at 3B (Patrick Wisdom isn’t exactly an All Star) and DH as well.. At least worth a spring training invite..
that WS 2015 KC team almost has no one left still playing – goes to show that the KC team peaked at the right moment after losing the year before.
No kidding. That bullpen was unhittable and 2 or 3 years later all 3 (Holland, Davis and Herrera were toast). Gordon thudded, LoCain kinda did, Moose and Hosmer are the last 2 standing.
Except for Salvy of course.
Now that Longo is long gone, Los Gigantes could use The Moose on the Loose as a 3B/DH boost.
Brewers may as well sign him, since they’re bringing back dudes from the 2018 team ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Seems like he could be a good flyer for any team needing a lefty bat. Send him to the hitting clinic that fixed Matt Carpenter and see how he performs.
Moose to the Dodgers for minimum wage!
and Moose tracks ice cream!
I can see the Cubs bringing him in to platoon with Wisdom at third base.
Tigers are in need of a 3B’man. Wouldn’t mind it, if they took a flier on Moustakas. As long as it’s a bargain.
Maybe the Yankees should sign him and maybe he’ll be the next Matt Carpenter.
I think the Jays should take a low risk high reward look at him. I know he’s a bandaid like Kiermaier but he also wouldn’t be getting 9M and a starting job either. Plus if all he’s doing is DH/backup 1B in a bench role, he may stay healthy. More than worth it if he’s cheap. Just keep him away from 3B and he should be fine?
The Tigers should be looking at him. He won’t be expensive & you can platoon him with Cabby and/or Kreidler. 3B/DH & even 1B with Tork.
How about the Yankees? Release the gift that cashman gave the twins named Donaldson and sign this guy
identical has beens…just the lefty porch at Yankee stadium favors CUT LOOSE MOOSE
He’s done as a MLB player, father time took on him and there’s no way back: wrong side of the 30’s, overweight, injury prone, poor hitter and bad glove.
and a reputation for suckin!
Smell like the Twins next failed reclamation project.
At least is Reds fans no longer have to suffer watching an woefully out of shape Moose chew gum like cud, as he does his slow walk back to the dugout after a K….
At least us Reds fans don’t have to suffer watching a woefully out of shape Moose chew gum like cud, as he does his slow walk back to the dugout after a K….
In a world where there’s a lot of bad being a Reds fan, he was the worst.
Devers’ contract will have the same outcome.