The Pros & Cons to Potentially Signing Mike Moustakas
The San Diego Padres had a positive 2017 season.
Despite the fact the team finished fourth in their division, they played better than most predicted.
For a team that was supposed to lose 100 games, the Padres played exceptionally well. The youth on the team produced, for the most part, and the inadequacies in the pitching staff were not a major issue for young manager Andy Green. Yes, the staff did have some rough patches, but players like Dinelson Lamet stepped up and did their job.
When looking at the everyday lineup of the San Diego Padres, you see a common theme. They team is heavily right-handed. Wil Myers, Manuel Margot, Austin Hedges, and Hunter Renfroe make up half the everyday lineup. Then there is Jose Pirela, who deserves a strong look in 2018. Each batter hits from the right-handed batter’s box, and each are a pivotal part of the Padres’ future. I would not expect any of that young foursome to be moved anytime soon. Pirela is another story though.
With those four players entrenched in the lineup, it is time to install some left-handed hitters to compliment it. Yangervis Solarte is perfect for the team as his switch-hitting abilities come in very valuable. Travis Jankowski could get another look, but Pirela is penciled in for left field presently. Carlos Asuaje and Cory Spangenberg provide potential left-handed bats, but each are probably better used as a table setters, rather than middle of the order hitters. Franchy Cordero is an option, but he has some plate discipline issues that need to be worked out.
Left-handed pop will be needed in this Padre lineup. Alex Dickerson could fit that role, but he is nursing a back injury and has yet to stay healthy for an extended period of time in his playing career. The Padres need to inject some power into the lineup somewhere, and he most certainly needs to be a left-handed hitter.
That is where Mike Moustakas comes in. In recent weeks, the talk of “Moose” to the Padres has surfaced here and there. Moustakas is a free agent at the end of the 2017 season and is coming off his best year in the major leagues. It is the perfect time for him to cash in. At 29, he is still young enough to have some productive years in him and he definitely comes with a power left-handed stroke.
His .271/.314/.523 batting line this season is productive, as are his 38 homers, but is he the right fit for a Padres team that is developing?
Let’s take a look for ourselves and make the determination.
What are the pros and cons to signing Mike Moustakas?
PAGE 2 LINK BELOW
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.