Cubs: How the Mike Moustakas signing impacts the team
By Ryan Sikes
The Chicago Cubs’ chances of returning to the top of the National League Central division took a hit when the Reds signed Mike Moustakas on Monday.
As if the Chicago Cubs weren’t already facing an uphill battle this offseason within their organization to improve off a disappointing 84-win season, they will now have the tall task of facing better competition in 2020. The Cincinnati Reds made a surprise move on Monday, signing veteran slugger, Mike Moustakas, to a four-year deal, and he will reportedly play second base.
The Reds have been in a steady rebuild since the 2014 season but have shown signs of improvements in the last couple of years. Anchored by perennial MVP candidate in Joey Votto, the Reds also have Eugenio Suarez, Nick Senzel, and rookie sensation Aristides Aquino. Moustakas bolsters an offense that finished with the fourth-fewest runs in the National League in 2019.
Fortunately for them, their pitching is in great shape, led by a rotation that features Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Trevor Bauer, and Anthony DeSclafani. The Reds were linked to Yasmani Grandal before he signed with the Chicago White Sox, but they don’t figure to be done spending this offseason. At just under $110 million before the Moustakas signing, the Reds are well under the league’s projected $208 million luxury tax threshold. He has just a .190 career average over a 14-game sample at the Great American Ballpark, but expect his production to change with an inviting 325 feet down the line to right field.
And while the Brewers look to have gotten worse on paper thus far in the offseason, the Cubs will now face stiff competition from both the Red and defending National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs need to get creative this offseason to improve their roster, and it ultimately may require parting ways with one of their young core players. They’re handcuffed to several large contracts in Jon Lester, Yu Darvish, and Jason Heyward with a projected Opening Day payroll just under $186 million.
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Moustakas would have been an excellent fit for the Cubs to immediately plug-in at second base. He doesn’t have an extensive track record at the position but logged a .993 fielding percentage in 359.2 innings for Milwaukee last season. It’s not immediately clear who will lock down the position, but their division is not waiting around for them to figure things out.