Kansas City Royals: A Mike Moustakas reunion isn’t in the cards

Former Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas is still a free agent, but a reunion is just not going to happen.

Kings of Kauffman has had a few readers reach out and ask if Mike Moustakas might return to the Kansas City Royals. While it is not impossible, it is highly improbable for the pair to reunite. Fear not, however, Moose will live on through the spirit of Brett Phillips and Jorge Lopez.

There was a similar situation last offseason that ended with Moustakas signing a one year deal with the Royals. That is what has landed him here once again. Spring Training is nearing with no job. Both sides have reasons why a reunion would not work.

Moustakas will want to avoid the cycle of a one year deal, and the Royals are not in a place to oblige with that. If he were to sign another contract that makes him a free agent at season end, there is a good chance he gets flipped again at the trade deadline. While trades are fun for fans, they are not so fun for the players in them.

From the Kansas City Royals side of things, it is time to see what Hunter Dozier can do. He is the hopeful future at third base and he has yet to really be able to prove himself. His 2018 season was riddled with injury hangover from an unfortunate 2017.

The team is not in a place where they need to spend money on an insurance policy for Dozier because they have one. His name is Nicky Lopez. He spent about half of 2018 in Triple A, but by the time Dozier has enough at bats to know if another option is needed, Lopez should be ready.

The way it looks there are two likely landing spots for Moustakas right now. Both of them will connect him to a former Kansas City Royals teammate. It was said today that the San Diego Padres are interested, which would reunite him with Eric Hosmer. But don’t count out Lorenzo Cain and the Brewers bringing him back.

Of the two, San Diego has the clear need at third base, but Milwaukee made it work last season. Safe money says Moustakas will end up at one of the two places. In a perfect world it might be possible for him to return to the Kansas City Royals. We do not live in that world right now.