The Chicago White Sox released infielder Mike Moustakas and outfielder Kevin Pillar on Friday. Moustakas was released after slashing a weak .195/.283/.317 with a home run and two RBI in 41 Cactus League at-bats for Chicago after signing a minor-league deal with the team on Feb. 14. The 35-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran is nearing the end of his career. The three-time All-Star hit .247/.293/.392 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 112 games with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels in his 13th big-league campaign. Pillar, who is also 35, went 11-for-44 in the Cactus League with five RBI. He hit .228/.248/.416 with nine home runs, 32 RBI and four steals in 81 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2023. Moustakas and Pillar will be looking to latch on with another team in reserve roles with the season starting next week.
Free-agent infielder Mike Moustakas has signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox that includes an invite to big-league spring training. The 35-year-old split the 2023 season between the Rockies and Angels and hit .247 with 12 home runs and a .685 OPS across 112 games played. The veteran was a mainstay for the Royals from 2011-2017 but his production has dropped off since signing a deal with the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2020 season. Primarily a third baseman, the veteran has spent time in the big leagues with the Royals, Brewers, Reds, Rockies, and Angels. He is the lifetime owner of a .247 average with 215 home runs alongside a .738 OPS across 1,427 games. With Andrew Vaughn, Yoan Moncada, and Eloy Jimenez set to log the bulk of reps at the corner infield spot and designated hitter, Moustakas appears hard-pressed to get many reps with the White Sox, barring injury.
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Mike Moustakas (forearm) was initially hurt while trying to make a diving play at first base against the Cleveland Guardians earlier this month and then had to leave a Sept. 12 game against the Seattle Mariners due to a left-forearm extensor strain. Moustakas was eventually placed on the injured list but said on Friday that he plans to return on Sunday. It would give the 35-year-old veteran a week left of action before the end of the 2023 campaign. The three-time All-Star has spent time with the Angels and Colorado Rockies this year, hitting a combined .252/.300/.404 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI and 43 runs scored in 370 trips to the plate over 108 games. With the Angels, he's hit .243 (54-for-222) with eight homers and 30 RBI in 61 games.
The Los Angeles Angels put infielder Mike Moustakas (forearm) on the 10-day injured list because of a left forearm extensor strain on Friday. They recalled second baseman Kyren Paris from Triple-A Salt Lake in a corresponding roster move. Moustakas exited Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning due to a sore left wrist, and it remains to be seen if he's able to return in 2023 with such little time remaining. Anaheim notably acquired the 35-year-old in a trade on the same night they pummeled his former Colorado Rockies team 25-1 for their worst loss in franchise history. Moustakas was serviceable at the start of his Angels career but stumbled to a .169 batting average (12-for-71) with one extra-base hit in his last 21 games. Eduardo Escobar and the recently elevated David Fletcher figure to take the Halos the rest of the way home at the hot corner.
Los Angeles Angels infielder Mike Moustakas stayed hot at the plate on Sunday night in a 9-8 loss to the division-rival Houston Astros by going 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk. It was the second game in a row that Moustakas left the yard for the Angels, and he's gone 12-for-50 (.240) with four home runs, eight RBI and seven runs scored in 14 games since joining the Halos. Despite the 34-year-old left-handed slugger's four home runs (eight total in 2023), he has managed to strike out 52 times in 190 trips to the plate with the Angels and Colorado Rockies in 61 total games. Moose might pop a home run every now and then, but he's not going to help your fantasy team's batting average at all with his lack of contact.
Colorado Rockies first baseman/designated hitter Mike Moustakas is back in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Boston Red Sox. This marks the veteran's first start since Friday as he as he has gone hitless in a pinch-hitting appearance in each of the club's last three contests. The former Royals, Brewers, and Reds infielder is hitting .250 with three homers and a decent .742 OPS on the season but his 86 wRC+ leaves much to be desired as that metric bakes in the Coors Field factor into its equation. However, the 34-year-old went 2-for-4 with a homer and an additional run scored in his most recent start and will hit seventh and play first base against Red Sox righty Kutter Crawford on Tuesday night in Boston.
Colorado Rockies third baseman Mike Moustakas is set to make his season debut against the San Diego Padres on Saturday. The left-handed slugger sat out the first two games of the regular season. Now, Moustakas will bat seventh and serve as the designated hitter against right-hander Michael Wacha. The 34-year-old didn't offer much upside with his bat last season. That being said, fantasy managers shouldn't have high hopes for Moustakas to be a fantasy contributor. Although, Colorado would be the place for Moustakas to have a bounce back year, if one was to happen.
Colorado Rockies third baseman Mike Moustakas is out of the starting lineup once again for Friday's game against the San Diego Padres. The left-handed slugger sat out on Opening Day, which led some to believe he'd start against right-hander Nick Martinez on Friday. That is not the case as Elehuris Montero remains at third base and moves down one spot in the batting order. The 34-year-old didn't offer much help offensively last season, so he might end up as a bench option in Colorado. Fantasy managers shouldn't have high hopes for Moustakas in 2023.
The Colorado Rockies reached a non-roster agreement with free-agent infielder Mike Moustakas on Sunday after he was released by the Cincinnati Reds in January. It's a minor-league deal for Moustakas. According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, Colorado's current plan is for Moustakas to play second base with Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) likely out for the season, which would allow Ryan McMahon to remain at third base. Moustakas is fully healthy after being limited to only 78 games with the Reds last year due to injuries. The 34-year-old veteran was underwhelming in those games, hitting .214/.295/.345 with a .640 OPS, seven homers, 25 RBI and 30 runs scored. Even with more potential playing time in a very hitter-friendly home park, fantasy managers shouldn't have high expectations for Moose.
The Cincinnati Reds released infielder Mike Moustakas on Thursday after designating him for assignment on Dec. 22 when the team signed catcher Curt Casali. Moustakas went unclaimed on waivers and is now free to sign with any team he so chooses. The 34-year-old left-handed slugger finished the 2022 season on the injured list with a calf injury that caused him to miss the final six weeks. In 78 games with Cincinnati, he hit a weak .214/.295/.345 with a .640 OPS, seven home runs, 25 RBI, 30 runs scored and two stolen bases in 285 plate appearances. The three-time All-Star hasn't played in over 78 games since his final season in Milwaukee in 2019. Moose will hope to latch on with another team and bounce back in 2023, but at this point in his career, he's likely to be a platoon infield bat in a best-case scenario.
