Red Sox: Mike Moustakas makes sense as free agent backup plan

Free agent third baseman Mike Moustakas could be an appealing option for the Boston Red Sox if a slow market forces him to sign a short-term deal.

Before the Boston Red Sox brought Mitch Moreland back on a two-year deal there had been speculation that Eric Hosmer was one of the team’s top free agent targets. After finding a better value in Moreland, it would seem that Hosmer is off the table but what about his former Kansas City Royals teammate, Mike Moustakas?

I previously listed Moustakas as a free agent to avoid. The 38 home runs he tallied this year smashed his previous career-high by enough to leave us wondering if the power spike is sustainable, while his dismal walk rate results in an unappealing on-base percentage. His glove is average, at best, at the hot corner. These flaws, plus the concern that the home run total is a fluke, present too much risk to hand Moustakas a lucrative long-term deal.

This outlook could change if Moustakas was willing to sign a short-term deal, as ESPN’s Buster Onley speculates.

The market for third basemen has been slow to develop this winter with few teams having both the financial resources and need at the position to chase Moustakas. The Royals may be interested in retaining him, although that may be contingent on whether or not they can also keep Hosmer. Kansas City isn’t a contender without both of them so why shell out the money to impede their rebuilding plans if the playoffs would be a long shot?

The Los Angeles Angels signed shortstop Zack Cozart with the intention of sliding him over to third. The San Francisco Giants traded for Evan Longoria. Most teams with playoff aspirations heading into next season are now set at the hot corner, leaving few potential suitors for Moustakas.

While Moustakas is easily the top third base option on the free agent market, he’ll have competition from the potential trade options. The Baltimore Orioles have been shopping Manny Machado and the Toronto Blue Jays may make Josh Donaldson available. A one-year rental for either star third baseman may have more appeal that committing a long-term deal to a riskier commodity in Moustakas.

Which is why Olney believes that a short-term deal that potentially puts him back on the market next year is a viable path for Moustakas to consider. Whether it’s a one-year deal or a two-year where the second is a player option, it could provide him with the opportunity to find his big payday in a better market. The few potential suitors left for a third baseman may also be more inclined to jump at Moustakas if they only need to commit to a year or two.

Olney lists the Orioles and Yankees as prime landing spots for Moustakas if he takes a short-term deal. Baltimore could shift Machado over to his natural shortstop position to fit Moustakas but the holes in their pitching staff may still prevent them from competing with the Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East. If the O’s end up trading away Machado then replacing him with an expensive free agent seems counterproductive. The Yankees are always a threat and have an opening at third base after trading away Chase Headley, yet that move was a pure salary dump intended to help New York duck the luxury tax. Adding Moustakas, even on a one-year deal, blows up those plans.

You can see why both AL East teams make some sense for Moustakas but there is another team in the division that could provide a better fit. That would be the Red Sox.