Mike Moustakas Rumors: Yankees, Orioles, Royals Among Possible Options For Free Agent

With 2017 quickly coming to an end, there doesn’t seem to be a ton of information regarding where one of MLB’s biggest free agents will land. When looking at the latest rumors around baseball, Mike Moustakas’ future seems to be very much up in the air.

Most of the talk surrounding the former Kansas City Royals’ third baseman has been pure speculation. There are those that believe the New York Yankees might be the best fit, while the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals have been mentioned as potential destinations. The possibility of Moustakas returning to Kansas City could also be increasing with no team emerging as the clear favorite.

New York might be the most intriguing option. The team has already traded for Giancarlo Stanton after coming one win shy of reaching the 2017 World Series, and adding Moustakas could give them one of the most dangerous lineups MLB has seen in years.

The Yankees, however, aren’t going to give the 29-year-old a lucrative long-term deal. The team reportedly has their eyes on making Manny Machado the third baseman of their future, either by trading for him this offseason or signing him as a free agent in 2018. That would require Moustakas to take a one-year deal to play in the Bronx, where he could thrive for a season, allowing him to cash in next winter.

Here is a Xmas wish list! Sign Mike Moustakas, if Manny cannot be signed long term , trade him for starting pitching. A form of rebuilding! #outsidethebox @masnOrioles

— Jim Palmer (@Jim22Palmer) December 17, 2017​

Players like Machado seem to be a reason why Moustakas remains unsigned. Instead of offering the third baseman a contract, teams are exploring trade possibilities for Machado and Josh Donaldson, who are MVP candidates that can reportedly be had at the right price.

Perhaps the trade of Evan Longoria will help get things moving for Moustakas. The former Tampa Bay Rays' third baseman was acquired by the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, though the team said they were never in play for Moustakas.

Baltimore’s willingness to trade Machado could make them a fit for Moustakas. While he wouldn’t completely replace Machado’s production, the free agent would come at a much cheaper price.

Buster Olney suggested that St. Louis could go after Moustakas because of their desire to improve the position. The Cardinals have seemingly been linked to most of the top available players this offseason. St. Louis acquired Marcell Ozuna from the Miami Marlins after they failed to trade for Stanton. The Cardinals reportedly showed interest in Longoria, though they might never have been close to executing a trade.

Moustakas had the best season of his career in 2017, hitting 38 home runs with a .272/.314/.521 slash line for the Royals. He nearly doubled his former career-high of 22 home runs, which he hit in 2015 when Kansas City won the World Series.

Moustakas’ struggles to get on base at a high rate could make teams reluctant to give him a big contract. Since entering the league in 2011, the third baseman has posted an on-base percentage higher than .314 just once.