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MLB Free Agency 2017: 5 potential teams for Mike Moustakas

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals at bat against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals at bat against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) David Wright #5 of the New York Mets looks on against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Citi Field on May 20, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Angels 7-5. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) David Wright #5 of the New York Mets looks on against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Citi Field on May 20, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Angels 7-5. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. New York Mets

David Wright is undoubtedly a franchise legend for the New York Mets, but chronic injuries have limited him to only 75 games over the past three years. The soon-to-be 35-year-old, seven-time All-Star missed all of the 2017 season. Wright has earned his right to try and hang on as long as he wants in an effort to get healthy, but all he’s doing at this point is holding the Mets hostage for $47 million over the next three years.

Already, the Mets are planning to begin the 2018 season without Wright, who was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2015 and has had neck, shoulder and spine surgeries in the following years. He last played in May 2016. That leaves Asdrubal Cabrera as the leader in the clubhouse to start at third base next year for the Mets. Remember him — he was the guy who demanded a trade after losing the shortstop job last summer. Good times, Mets fans. Good times.

The Mets have effectively been playing without a long-term answer at third base for three yaers now. Cabrera isn’t the answer, either. He has hit a respectable .280/.343/.455 in two years with the Mets.

Budgetary restrictions will plague the Mets again this offseason, likely ruling them out of the sweepstakes for Mike Moustakas. It’s got to be frustrating for Mets fans to continuously watch their team spend at the league average in the largest media market in the country. Moustakas is the answer for the Mets at third base, but they are unlikely to patch it together with Cabrera for another full season while waiting for Wright to retire.

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