Reds GM Nick Krall's comments about Mike Moustakas speak volumes

Drew Koch

Cincinnati Reds infielder Mike Moustakas / Jim McIsaac/GettyImages

The Cincinnati Reds have a 34-year-old, $64M elephant in the room. Mike Moustakas is still on the Reds roster and is owed a chunk of change next season.

The Reds signed Moustakas to a four-year contract prior to the 2020 season. But injuries, lack of conditioning, and poor performance have led to multiple attempts on the part of Cincinnati to part ways with Moustakas.

The problem is, no team in their right mind would take on the $22M ($18M salary for 2023 season and $4M buyout for 2024 season) owed to Moustakas next season unless the Redlegs were willing to eat the majority of Moose's salary or include a top-level prospect in a potential trade.

Reds GM Nick Krall's comments about Mike Moustakas speak volumes.

The MLB Winter Meetings are taking place this week, and one has to assume that Cincinnati Reds General Manager Nick Krall is doing everything he can to try and trade Mike Moustakas. When asked about the infielder's status (via MLB.com), Krall has a very succinct answer:

"He’s on our roster. That’s it."
Nick Krall, Reds General Manager

Krall's response tells you everything you need to know, and likely gives fans a clue about Moustakas' future with the club. Though owed a handsome sum of money next season, it would appear that Moustakas will either not be on the roster come Opening Day, or not be a significant piece of the everyday lineup.

If, by some chance, Moustakas is still on the roster when the Cincinnati Reds square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates to open the 2023 season, the only conceivable position he might occupy would be the designated hitter.

David Bell spoke at the MLB Winter Meetings about his starting infield which will likely consist of Joey Votto (1B), Jonathan India (2B), Jose Barrero/ Kevin Newman (SS), and Spencer Steer (3B). That leaves Moose out of the equation.

If the Reds can walk away from this week without Mike Moustakas on the ball club, even if Cincinnati has to pay the majority of his 2023 salary, it'll be a win. But it seems very unlikely.

Drew Koch

Drew Koch has been an MLB Staff Writer since January 2024 and part of the FanSided Network since June 2018. Drew's contributions have been published on Blog Red Machine, Friars on Base, BoSox Injection, Lombardi Avenue, Wildcat Blue Nation, Motor City Bengals, and many other sites within the FanSided Network. When he's not cheering wildly for the Cincinnati Reds or the Kentucky Wildcats, Drew enjoys fishing, golfing, playing cribbage and other card games, listening to country and classical music, and spending time with his family and friends.