The New York Yankees were a dark horse landing spot for infielder Mike Moustakas, however he signed with the Cincinnati Reds before the Yankees could do anything. The Reds inked him to a four year, $64 million deal.
If the Yankees signed him, they would likely of wanted him to play first base and an occasional second base. He’s sort of a DJ LeMahieu type player with more power and less speed.
Moustakas played with the Brewers last season and was the second overall pick in the 2007 amatuer draft to the Royals. He hit .254 with 35 home runs and 87 RBIs in 2019.
The lefty power hitter is going to a Reds team that’s attempting a major turnaround. A few years ago, they were at the bottom of the NL Central but now look like possible contenders in said division.
Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius is also a free agent, and there’s a chance that he could return to Cincinnati, the organization that drafted him. Moustakas will play second for the Reds, meaning that him and Didi would be the double play combo if Gregorius decides to sign there.
Over the last week or so, the free agent activity has heated up a bit and Moustakas is the first big name to come off the board. The Yankees have stayed quiet in the first month of the offseason, but there are still plenty of rumors swirling around the team.
The three big names in Strasburg, Cole, and Rendon are still on the board, and they may remain on the board for a while. However, you should expect the Yankees to go after a middle reliever or a utility man relatively soon.