The last game of the 2017 season was the “royal” sendoff for the core of the club that reached two World Series. Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar and Jason Vargas were toasted as departing heroes. Tears were shed at the perceived end of an era.
How are those players doing today, and how does the Royals’ replacement plan look? This week, I’m taking a look at each of the five players celebrated on the last day of 2017 and what the Royals are doing at their respective positions:
Read Monday’s look at Eric Hosmer and the Royals’ plan to replace him.
Read Tuesday’s look at Alcides Escobar and the Royals’ plan to replace him.
Wednesday – Mike Moustakas, 3B: Unlike Hosmer, the Royals had no intention of resigning Moustakas after the 2017 season. But in a strange twist of fate, there was so little interest in the free agent third baseman, Moustakas was left dangling until spring training.
One thing seems to be true about Royals General Manager Dayton Moore: he seems to be able capitalize on undervalued assets. While he had Cheslor Cuthbert ready to step into the third base role full time, Moore recognized the potential for a sign and trade with Moustakas. He brought Moose back on what everyone knew was a very temporary basis.
So Moustakas gave the Royals more or less two-thirds of a season. With 20 home runs he further cemented his place in Royals history – he now stands in ninth place in homers with 139. He produced 2.1 WAR in 98 games, heading for one of the best seasons of his career.
But on July 27 he was traded. And that’s where this story begins.
Hunter Dozier had been with the Royals most of the season, and wasn’t producing much at first base. But when Moustakas was dealt, it opened the door for Dozier to play semi-regularly at third for the last two months of the season. He took some positive steps, hitting .254 with 6 homers and 20 RBI the final two months. During that same period, Moose hit .256 with 8 homers and 33 RBI for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Dozier hasn’t figured out how to get on base as regularly as Moose. He probably doesn’t field at third base as well as Moose. But he runs well and is more athletic. There is potential there.
The wild card moving forward in the long-term replacement of Moustakas will be Cuthbert. In 2016, his one opportunity to play every day at third base, Cuthbert hit a respectable .274 with 12 homers as a 23-year-old. He looked like he might be the heir apparent to Moose.
But in the rare periods that he hasn’t been injured since 2016, Cuthbert has been ineffective. The Royals are loath to part with a player of his youth and potential, but roster dynamics have his future in jeopardy.
But the real story here isn’t just how Dozier or Cuthbert serve in Moustakas’ absence. The real story is what KC will get out of outfielder Brett Phillips and pitcher Jorge Lopez, the two players they received from the Brewers in return for Moustakas.
Phillips struggled mightily in his two-month audition. The poor guy just can’t keep from striking out. Phillips went down hacking 50 times in just 112 at bats for Kansas City. His inability to get on base neutralized his speed on the basepaths.
Still, the Royals love his tools, particularly his arm and ability to cover ground in centerfield. For that reason, they will be very patient with him.
They can afford to be patient with Lopez, too. The 25-year-old will get every opportunity to hold a spot in the pitching rotation. In seven starts with KC, Lopez was hot and cold, but showed enough potential for the Royals to give him ample opportunities.
So the Royals got to enjoy four additional months of one of their most popular figures in Moustakas, giving fans something to relish during the bleakest of seasons. And they received two prospects for him at the deadline.
It’s bittersweet to watch Moustakas in the playoffs with Milwaukee. But the Royals will probably be wise to move on from Moustakas from a long-term perspective. He’s 30 years old, and has a body that doesn’t look to age well. Even if he is available at a low price this offseason, the Royals would be better served to invest financially in other places.
But to come out on top in the replacement of Moose, the Royals need for some combination of Dozier, Cuthbert, Phillips and Lopez to be part of the future.