Report: Yankees interested in Mike Moustakas at unfamiliar position
Mike Moustakas is generating some interest heading into the trade deadline with the Kansas City Royals nowhere near playoff contention, and the third baseman could land with one of the best teams in baseball if he is willing to change positions.
Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports that the New York Yankees are one of the teams that have inquired about Moustakas, but they would want the 29-year-old to play first base. Other teams, such as the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, are interested in Moustakas but would keep him at his natural position.
Moustakas has made only two starts at first in his seven-plus MLB seasons, and both came earlier this year. Yankees starting third baseman Miguel Andujar is currently hitting .282 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI in his first full MLB season, so New York seems set at the position. As Morosi notes, the Yankees currently have the second-worst OPS (.657) overall from their first basemen, with Greg Bird atop the depth chart.
One thing that makes Moustakas such a sought-after commodity is his contract. After he seemingly botched his free agency last winter coming off a career year, he signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Royals that has a mutual $15 million option for the 2019 season.
Moustakas, who has been out of the lineup for most of the week after suffering a fluke injury, is hitting .258 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI. While his average is down a bit, he hit 38 home runs last year and is on pace for around 30 homers and 100 RBI this season. Plenty of teams could use that kind of pop at such a reasonable price.
