Moustakas, 34, was launched by the Reds in January, with the membership consuming $22M within the course of. He hooked on with the Rockies on a minor league deal in March and cracked the Opening Day roster with a powerful spring. With the Rockies, Moustakas was used as a backup on the infield corners behind C.J. Cron and Ryan McMahon. Cron has been on the IL with a again damage since mid-May, however Elehuris Montero has been drawing a great variety of begins at first base in his stead.
After a pair of injury-wracked seasons, the left-handed-hitting Moustakas bounced again to a level in his 136 plate appearances with Colorado this 12 months by posting a 101 wRC+. Moustakas successfully acquired to stroll over to the guests’ clubhouse Saturday, after the Angels set numerous franchise data with a 25-1 drubbing of the Rockies at Coors Field.
Moustakas didn’t get to play in that one, however he’ll transfer from the NL’s worst crew to a Halos membership that’s tied for the third AL wild-card spot with the Blue Jays. The Angels need to make the playoffs for the primary time since 2014. With the Moustakas acquisition, they’ve added a three-time All-Star, 2015 World Champion, and 13-year MLB veteran. Moose hit 35 house runs in 2019, the fifth time he’d hit at the least 20 in a season.
Moustakas’ preliminary two bouts with free company had been disappointments. The first time by means of in 2017-18, he turned down a $17.4M qualifying provide from the Royals solely to return in March on a one-year, $6.5M deal. The subsequent time, he lingered in the marketplace till February earlier than re-signing with the Brewers for $10M. Moustakas was ready to make use of his 2019 All-Star season as a springboard to a shocking four-year, $64MM cope with the Reds. Unfortunately, Moustakas performed in solely 140 video games for the Reds from 2021-22 resulting from heel accidents, a proper biceps pressure, calf strains, and stints on the COVID-IL.
Moustakas spent a while at second base in 2019-20, however since then he’s been utilized on the infield corners and designated hitter. The Angels have used a solid of gamers at first this 12 months, with over 100 innings apiece going to Brandon Drury, Jared Walsh, Gio Urshela, and Jake Lamb. Lamb was optioned to Triple-A in May, and Walsh adopted him on Saturday. Urshela just lately suffered a season-ending fractured pelvis.
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon went on the IL final Monday with a bruised wrist. Luis Rengifo had been getting the nod on the sizzling nook till the Angels picked up switch-hitter Eduardo Escobar as one thing of an Urshela alternative in a trade with the Mets on Friday. Escobar, the Mets’ beginning third baseman final 12 months, might complement Moustakas at first and dabble at second base as soon as Rendon returns. Escobar has hit lefties fairly properly in current seasons, with a 131 wRC+ in 398 plate appearances in opposition to them since 2021. Moustakas hit righties to the tune of a 115 wRC+ from 2015-20 and may have to take action once more to take care of his roster spot.
As for the Rockies, Moustakas might maybe be the primary domino to fall upfront of the Aug. 1 trade deadline. GM Bill Schmidt didn’t give a lot away in his feedback on the subject on the Rockies broadcast a few week in the past, however the crew’s potential free brokers embody Charlie Blackmon, Randal Grichuk, Jurickson Profar, C.J. Cron, Pierce Johnson, Brent Suter, and Brad Hand.
In Van Scoyoc, the Rockies picked up a 23-year-old righty who’s served as a beginning pitcher for the High-A Tri-City Dust Devils this 12 months. He was an Eleventh-round decide by the Angels out of an Iowa highschool again in 2018. Van Scoyoc has posted a 2.76 ERA in 62 innings at that stage on the power of a 51.2% groundball fee. Oddly sufficient, Van Scoyoc additionally switched clubhouses to affix his new crew, notes Doug Taylor on Twitter.
The 26-year-old Padlo had signed a minor league cope with the Angels again in December, incomes a Major League look by hitting .273/.396/.555 at Triple-A. The Angels chosen his contract on Monday and gave him eight plate appearances, however now he’s misplaced a 40-man spot as soon as once more. Padlo, a nook infielder, has additionally seen MLB time with the Rays, Mariners, Giants, and Pirates.
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