Reds sign Mike Moustakas to four-year, $64 million deal, per report

This offseason’s trend of the Milwaukee Brewers serving as the league’s farm system has continued. The team lost Mike Moustakas to free agency this offseason, and he has now agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman and ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Moustakas, 31, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the second pick in the 2007 MLB draft. He made his debut in 2011 and spent seven-and-a-half seasons in the majors with Kansas City, being named to two All-Star games. In 2018, he was dealt to the Brewers, with whom he re-signed in 2019. Has was named to his third All-Star game this past year. After a pair of back-to-back seasons playing under one-year contracts, Moustakas is rewarded with a large four-year deal.

This past year, Moustakas slashed .254/.329/.516 with 87 RBI on 133 hits, including 35 home runs, in 143 games. He walked a career-high 53 times and struck out 98.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the team non-tendered infielder José Peraza, leaving a sudden gap at second base, which will be filled by Moustakas. He appeared at second base 47 times and third base 105 times in 2019.

This should prove to be a great signing for Cincinnati, and certainly a rewarding one for Moustakas, who finally gets paid big money for his efforts.