Cincinnati Reds
The Chicago White Sox might be smart to look at the Cincinnati Reds for trades.
The White Sox are still looking for a second baseman. The free agency market looks bleak. It just so happens the Reds have a former All-Star who appears to be on the trade block in Mike Moustakas.
With the emergence of Jonathan India and Engenio Suárez along with Asdrúbal Cabera holding down third base and shortstop, Moustakas’s presence on the roster is no longer needed.
He also has the second most expensive contract on the team with two years left on his $64 million deal. The Reds would like to move off of if they can get a good return.
Moustakas is coming off a bad statistical season, mainly due to a campaign hampered by injuries. He was limited to 62 games slashing .208/.282/.372. This is a major drop from his usual production at the plate.
From 2015-to 2020, he slashed .262/.326/.490. He also appeared in three All-Star games and was a part of the Kansas City Royals core that won the World Series in 2015.
That championship experience could come in handy on a White Sox team looking to get over the top. It would also fit a trend of battle-tested playoff veterans that Rick Hahn has brought in such as Yasmani Grandal, Dallas Keuchel, and Lance Lynn.
Moustakas also has great power from the left-hand side of the plate and the White Sox have experienced it first hand when he was a member of the Royals. He had 38 home runs in 2017 and 35 in 2019.
Because Moustakas is coming off of a bad season, his trade value is low. His 0.4 fWAR was the worst of his career. It is a good time for the White Sox to gauge the Red’s interest because they could get him at a discounted price. However, the Reds may hold onto him in an attempt to raise his trade value.