What to expect from Mike Moustakas

The Milwaukee brewers' decision to bring back Mike Moustakas on a one-year contract (plus a mutual option for 2020) raises many questions about the position of each, but for now, let's summarize the move as follows:

That's good when the Milwaukee Brewers add good players to their list.

I know. It's a wild concept. But David Stearns has shown a willingness in recent years for unfair reasons to be unconventional by signing good players.

And despite what some Twitterverse brewers think, that's what Mike Moustakas is.

Considering that Moustakas was a brewer last year, we already know what to expect, and what we've seen in 54 games plus the playoffs is probably close to that.

Moose beat .256 / .326 / .441 with the Brewers in the regular season last year, before three very good games in the NHLL (4 on 11 with a double and 2 RBI) and a very bad seven games in the NLCS (4 for 29 with 12 strikeouts). He had a .328 wOBA and a 103 wRC + with the Brewers in the regular season last year. Although he beat at a rate higher than his career average (18.3% K% against 15.6% career), he also walked more often (8.7% BB% compared to an average of career of 6.7%). According to Fangraphs projections in Steamer, Moustakas is expected to position itself on a .260 / .321 / .491 line with a .343 wOBA and on a 113 wRC +, while ZiPS was even more optimistic about a full year where the Moose would be loose in Milwaukee. 267 / .324 / .506:

Even if his progress rate improved with the Brewers turns out to be real (and put the brakes on these averages considering that it was just a handful of games and he was a little happy in the playoffs), he is not going Carry on. base one ton, but considering that it will not be considered an average bat for the Brewers as he has been with the Royals – rather like the 6th or 7th best batter in a pretty stacked team – The brewers will probably live with that if it means that someone can drive guys who hit the 3rd, 4th or 5th.

There is no doubt that bringing back Moustakas' baton broadens the range, and with the addition of Yasmani Grandal, one could say that there is no easy fix in Milwaukee Nine before you reach the 8th place is virtually guaranteed to be a short Orlando Arcia stop. This is one of the deepest formations in the National League, and this depth extends to the bench, which (ideally) should help the Brewers to resist setbacks or offensive injuries better than they do. had done in the first half of last season.

Moustakas' return may also underline the team's desire to demonstrate defensive versatility, even though Moustakas himself rarely played anywhere other than the third goal of his career.

On Monday, writers had speculated and confirmed by Craig Counsell that Moustakas would see time go to second base this spring. If it works, the plan seems to be to keep Travis Shaw at third base and play against the Moustakas at second base when they are both in training at the same time.

Even if you have doubts about how Moustakas – who, like Shaw, is not built as a typical second-player player – this does not mean that Moustakas would be a full-time second-player player. Moustakas is not bad against left-handers for a left-handed hitter, who offered them a .260 / .301 / .420 lineup last year. That's better than Shaw's .209 / .303 / .296 shot against lefties last year. It is therefore possible that we see Moustakas on the third goal against left-handed starters this year, Hernan Perez probably playing the second goal.

In addition, if you feel that the signing of the Moustakas makes Eric Thames irreplaceable, the possibility that Moose plays the first goal as the left half of a section with Jesus Aguilar would also open a pathway for recreation. Unlike the second base, Moustakas actually played a first time in his career, although he was very limited to Kansas City.

In this spirit, even if Travis Shaw ends up being the third dominant player on the team, Moustakas should have a lot of playing time. Therefore, it's not like the Brewers were spending $ 10 million for a player part time. He should still easily collect more than 500 appearances on the plates, regardless of the position he occupies, essentially occupying a full-time role in the training. If the defense raises concerns, we will probably see Moustakas change teams for Perez – or possibly Mauricio Dubon – at the end of the round when Counsell is reasonably sure that Moustakas' place in the order will never be reached again.

Moustakas' reputation may be a little bigger than his production warrants – some memorable playoff moments, including his loss to last year's Brewers, will do the same – but he will not not paid as a superstar and he will not do it. should be one with the brewers. This is simply the best one-year option for the team to help fill a hole in the infield, even if it means re-occupying this position unconventionally.

Statistics provided by Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs