Royals roster moves: Mike Moustakas optioned to Triple-A, Jimmy Paredes recalled

The Kansas City Royals have decided to option struggling third baseman Mike Moustakas to Triple-A Omaha and recall infielder Jimmy Paredes, according to the Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough. Moustakas has hit just .152/.253/.320 in 139 plate appearances this season, yet he still somehow leads the Royals in home runs with four.

Moustakas, 25, has a .290/.331/.531 batting line with 25 home runs and 92 runs batted in over 107 career games in Omaha. Over parts of four seasons with the Royals, he's hit .236/.290/.379 with 41 homers and 162 runs driven in over 441 big league games.

He has been an above average defender at third base in his career, but a solid glove only goes so far when a guy's hitting below the Mendoza line.

Paredes, also 25, was selected off of waivers from the Orioles in February, presumably as a fall back plan if Moustakas struggled. The team also shipped David Lough to Baltimore for Danny Valencia during their offseason hot corner fortification. Paredes, a switch hitter, could fill in for Valencia from time to time against right handed pitching.

The Royals don't often make moves that seem to indicate an admittance of failure (remember Kyle Davies?), but they are currently mixed in to a crowded group below the Tigers in the AL Central. Their pride appears to have taken a backseat to their desperation to post another winning season. General manager Dayton Moore recently signed an extension with the club, but if the Royals don't make the playoffs, the fans in Kansas City might end up cordially placing him outside the city limits, even if team owner David Glass can't bring himself to wield the axe.