9 trade targets from the Cincinnati Reds for the Colorado Rockies

Cincinnati Reds infielder Mike Moustakas could also have a bounceback 2022 season for the Colorado Rockies

Like Eugenio Suárez, Cincinnati Reds infielder Mike Moustakas could also have a bounceback 2022 season for the Colorado Rockies.

In 2021, Moustakas, 33, struggled with a heel injury, which was the cause for his drop in production. He only played in 62 games and he only had six homers and 22 RBI with a slash line of .208/.282/.372 and an OPS+ of 66.

However, Moustakas was an above-average MLB hitter in each of the previous six seasons.

In 2020, he played in 44 games and he hit eight homers and had 27 RBI. He had a slash line of .230/.331/.468 with an OPS+ of 105. In 2019 for Milwaukee, he played in 143 games and he had 30 doubles, 35 homers, 87 RBI, a .254/.329/.516 slash line, and an OPS+ of 114.

From 2017 through 2019, he had an average of 34 homers and 89 RBI with an OPS+ of 113. That’s the production that the Colorado Rockies need in their lineup.

Moustakas is primarily a third baseman but he can also play second and first base as well.

Contractually, Moustakas is entering the third year of a four-year contract. He is owed $16 and $18 million for the next two years (with $500,000 bonuses in each season) with a team option for $20 million for 2024. With that, the Reds could look to unload him to get rid of his salary.