MLB: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
563 PA, .267/.324/.490, .814 OPS—Average of all
538 PA, .268/.327/.493, .820 OPS—Best projection (Steamer)
586 PA, .265/.317/.486, .803 OPS—Worst projection (ATC)
The man who last season passed Steve “Bye Bye” Balboni to set the single-season record for home runs by a Kansas City Royal is the third most predictable hitter on this list. All seven sources project Moustakas to have an OPS between .803 and .820, which is below the .835 mark he put up last year but well above his career .730 OPS. The projections see a little less power and slightly better on-base numbers for Moose compared to last season. The average of all seven sources have him hitting 29 home runs with 79 RBI.
Despite coming off a 38-homer season, Moustakas didn’t sign a free agent contract until well into spring training, and it was just a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2019. He’s guaranteed $5.5 million in salary for this year, with $2.2 million in incentives for reaching certain thresholds in plate appearances (he’ll earn the entire $2.2 million if he reaches 450 PA). The mutual option is for $15 million in 2019 or a $1 million buyout. Of the four core Royals who were eligible for free agency, Moustakas and Alcides Escobar are back in blue. Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer have moved on.