'We have some unfinished business:' Mike Moustakas, Brewers finalize $10M, 1-year deal
Mike Moustakas
MARYVALE, Ariz. — Mike Moustakas and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized a $10 million, one-year contract that keeps the third baseman in Milwaukee.
Moustakas gets a $7 million salary this year under the deal announced Tuesday. The deal includes an $11 million mutual option for 2020 with a $3 million buyout.
Moustakas rejected a $17.4 million qualifying offer from Kansas City after the 2017 season and returned to the Royals in mid-March for a one-year contract that included a guaranteed $6.5 million: a $5.5 million salary and $1 million option buyout. Moustakas earned an additional $2.2 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances, raising his total earnings in the deal to $8.7 million.
Mike Moustakas
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the first day of spring training for the full squad, the fact that Moose is back is big.
Mike Moustakas
"It's the first day so it's a good day show up because you get a lot of excitement on the first day, so he's got good timing so he's excited and I think showing up on the first day and being able to get out with your team on the first day is exciting for everybody," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell.
"Great teammate, great player, big contributor for us down the stretch last year in the second half and it's great to have him in the clubhouse, great that he's coming back. He just brings a winning attitude, winning player and anytime you can those guys on your team it's huge," said Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich.
"I feel like we have some unfinished business after last year, this is a great place to play baseball, we have a bunch of friends on this team, it's a great city they love the Brewers and I loved playing here last year, it was a lot of fun," Moustakas said.
Moustakas hit .256 with eight homers and 33 RBIs in 54 games for Milwaukee, which acquired him from the last-place Royals on July 27. A 30-year-old left-handed hitter, Moustakas had a .251 average overall with 28 homers and 95 RBIs last year. He struck out for the final out of the NL Championship Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mike Moustakas