It was a matter of time before Mike Moustakas’ run with the Cincinnati Reds came to an end.
That time came on Thursday. According to FOX Sports, the Reds released Moustakas after he had been designated for assignment after Curt Casili had been signed.
Mike Moustakas’ disappointing tenure with Cincinnati Reds comes to an end
There were high hopes for Moustakas when he had signed. He was supposed to be that missing piece in the lineup, a power bat that could change the game for the Reds. Although he would be playing out of position at second base, the Reds were hopeful that his offense would more than make up for any defensive shortcomings.
Instead, that signing was a disaster. He played a grand total of 33 games at second, most of which came in the pandemic shortened 2020 campaign, before moving back to third. His bat also did not travel to Cincinnati as Moustakas posted a .216/.300/.383 batting line in his 654 plate appearances, hitting just 21 homers and 33 doubles. This was not what the Reds had hoped for when Moustakas signed his four year deal worth $64 million.
There is hope that Moustakas can return to form. He was an above average bat in 2020 even if his overall performance was somewhat disappointing. Heel and calf issues certainly contributed to his struggles over the past two seasons. If he is healthy, he could be that power bat that teams are still looking for.
It would not surprising for a team to take a chance on Moustakas. A team such as the Marlins, who could use a third baseman and/or a power bat in the lineup, could bring him in. The Reds will be paying the vast majority of his contract this season, leaving any interested team on the hook for just the league minimum. He is certainly worthwhile as a lottery ticket.
The Cincinnati Reds have moved on from Mike Moustakas as he has officially been released. It is a move that had been a long time coming.