Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the Kansas City Royals have re-signed All Star third baseman Mike Moustakas to a one-year deal. He will make $5.5 million salary this season with up to $2.2 million in performance bonuses. His contract has a mutual option for 2019, worth $15 million with a $1 million buyout.
Moose, 29, hit .272/.314/.521 with 38 home runs and 85 RBIs for the Royals last season, making his second career All Star game. After posting two consecutive seasons with positive marks for DRS and UZR, he had a down year defensively in 2017 posting -8 DRS and a -3.1 UZR at the hot corner.
Moustakas will not be subject to a qualifying offer if he chooses to elect free agency next season as under the current CBA rules, players can’t receive more than one qualifying offer in their career. The effects of having draft pick compensation attached to a free agent are being seen very clearly this offseason.
The Royals get to keep two of their big-name free agents as Alcides Escobar also returned while Lorenzo Cain went to the Brewers, Eric Hosmer went to the Padres, and Jason Vargas went to the Mets.
