The Chicago White Sox signed veteran infielder Mike Moustakas to a minor league contract on Wednesday. The team officially announced the deal on social media. Moustakas will appear at White Sox spring training as a non-roster invitee.
Mike Moustakas Signs with White Sox
The 35-year-old Moustakas has played for several teams over his 13-year career. He is most known for his time with the Kansas City Royals, with whom he won the 2015 World Series. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2018 deadline and spent a year and a half there. With Milwaukee, he made his third and most recent All-Star appearance in 2019. Moustakas went on to sign with the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he spent three injury-riddled seasons. He then split last season between the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels.
Moustakas’ offensive output has dropped off since leaving the Brewers. Last season, in 112 games, he hit .247 with 12 homers and 48 RBI. That is a far cry from his 35 homers and 87 RBI in 2019. Two years prior with the Royals, he hit a career-high 38 dingers. Age and injuries have taken their toll, but if Moustakas can make the big-league roster out of spring training, it could offer a fresh start for the journeyman.
In more recent years, Moustakas has gone from being primarily a third baseman to splitting time between first and third. He has also DHed occasionally. If he can have a decent enough spring to make the 25-man roster, this would afford the rebuilding White Sox some versatility in their infield. Not only would they be able to see where Moustakas fits best, but moving him around would allow younger infielders to ease into their major league reps more smoothly. It will be intriguing to see how Moustakas does this spring and if the team ultimately decides to bring him back east to Chicago.
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