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MLB: 5 best free agents who aren’t Bryce Harper or Manny Machado

By Adam H. McGinnis

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox delivers the pitch during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox delivers the pitch during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 05: Mike Moustakas #18 of the Milwaukee Brewers makes a throw to first base during Game Two of the National League Divisional Series against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park on October 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Brewers defeated the Rockies 4-0. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 05: Mike Moustakas #18 of the Milwaukee Brewers makes a throw to first base during Game Two of the National League Divisional Series against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park on October 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Brewers defeated the Rockies 4-0. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

3. Mike Moustakas

Mike Moustakas took a big risk last offseason by declining a qualifying offer extended by the Kansas City Royals. Had he accepted it, he would have returned to the Royals on a one-year deal worth $17.4 million. But he was looking for a bigger contract with multiple years. The risk didn’t pay off and he ended up instead getting a one-year, $6.5 million deal from the Royals.

That year is up, and after playing for both the Royals and Milwaukee Brewers in 2018, he’ll get to try his luck again as a free agent. He could potentially do better this time around, though it still seems unlikely he’ll get the kind of big contract he was looking for last year.

Moustakas has never been able to replicate the kind of year he had with Kansas City in 2015 when he slashed .284/.348/.470. He usually doesn’t get on base at a very high clip, but he’ll hit for a decent average and he’ll add some pop to your lineup.

Last season he hit 28 home runs, the second most of his career. That’s an encouraging sign that he isn’t losing too much power at this stage of his career. And in this swing plane, home run-driven era of baseball, power hitters are invaluable.

The lack of perceived interest in Moustakas, for the moment, is probably due to the fact that Manny Machado is still available. He is without a doubt the most coveted corner infielder to hit free agency in a long time. He’s easily the first choice among teams searching for a third baseman.
Once Machado finds a new home, the market will heat up for Moustakas. If the Chicago White Sox don’t win the Machado Sweepstakes, Moustakas would be a good second option to add a power bat to their lineup.

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