Reds Trade Rumors: Mike Moustakas, Eugenio Suarez Linked to Possible Deals
The Cincinnati Reds could look to cut payroll in a big way this offseason, and two players who could be on the way out in the process are third baseman Eugenio Suarez and infielder Mike Moustakas.ย
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that both players could end up on the trade block:
"Here's one team that isn't spending: theย Cincinnati Reds. The first sign wasย Sonny Grayโwho is locked in at a very club-friendly $20 million over the next two years with a $12 million option for 2023โhitting the trade market. Non-tenderingย Archie Bradleyย and offloadingย Raisel Iglesiasโtheir eighth- and ninth-inning guysโwas another. Now, Cincinnati has considered trading third basemanย Eugenio Suarez, sources said, and gauged interest inย Mike Moustakas, who's entering the second season of a four-year deal."
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That the Reds could go from a playoff berth to losing Trevor Bauer (free agent), Bradley, Iglesias, Suarez and Moustakas this offseason would be nothing short of a slap in the face to the team's fans.ย
Suarez, 29, hit .202 with 15 homers and 38 RBI in 58 games, continuing to emerge as one of baseball's premier power hitters after blasting 49 dingers and 103 RBI in 2019 and 34 homers and 104 RBI in 2018.ย
The drop in batting average (.271 in 2019) and on-base percentage (from .358 in 2019 to .312) was a concern, though that may have normalized over the course of a full season. But if he's indeed on the market, it's a safe bet that teams will have interest given his power numbers.
Moustakas, 32, was a bit of a disappointment in his first season with the Reds, hittingย .230 with eight homers and 27 RBI in 45 games. He was not quite on pace to replicate his excellent 2019 campaign (35 homers, 87 RBI), though his numbers weren't poor, either.ย
If the Reds cut bait with Moustakas one year after signing him to a four-year, $64 million deal it would raise some eyebrows. And if the team moves on from a number of key players, last season's exciting playoff push is unlikely to be replicated.
