Skip to content

5 options for Royals after Moustakas injury

David Banks / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Kansas City Royals were dealt a huge blow on Thursday when the team announced third baseman Mike Moustakas will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.

Moustakas suffered the injury after colliding with left fielder Alex Gordon - who is out for three-to-four weeks with a wrist fracture - while chasing a foul ball Sunday.

While the Royals can rely on Paulo Orlando and Jarrod Dyson in the outfield during Gordon's injury stretch, the loss of Moustakas for an entire season is much more of a punch to the gut for the defending World Series champions.

Here are five options the Royals could consider to replace Moustakas:

Internal

Cheslor Cuthbert

For the time being, the Royals plan to use the 23-year-old Cuthbert as Moustakas' replacement. Despite owning a decent glove, the inexperienced Nicaraguan doesn't provide Kansas City with much production. He's hit just .229/.264/.352 with two home runs and 11 RBIs during his time in the bigs, compared to the 22 home runs and added 82 RBIs Moustakas added last season alone.

Omar Infante

The Royals are paying the one-time All-Star $7.75 million this season and are potentially on the hook for at least another $10 million to the infielder over the next two seasons. If they want to get the most value for the 34-year-old veteran, they could use him at third instead of Cuthbert, giving Christian Colon a shot at second base. Although Infante hasn't exactly dazzled with his offense this year or last, he's still capable of reaching 60 RBIs.

Hunter Dozier

When the Royals drafted the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Texan eighth overall in 2013, they probably expected more pop out of his bat. The 24-year-old had only smacked 39 home runs during four seasons of minor-league ball, but started to show some power this year. During his 2016 campaign split between Double- and Triple-A, Dozier has an OPS of .960 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 184 plate appearances. If he continues to rack, he may get his big-league call.

External

Danny Valencia

If any team is open to an early-season trade, it's the Oakland Athletics, who never shy away from a deal. After a slow start to his season, Valencia has been tearing the cover off the ball lately, hitting .306/.333/.505 with six home runs and 17 RBIs overall. Oakland could swap him while he's hot to the Royals, who Valencia spent part of 2014 with.

David Freese

With Jung Ho Kang back in the Pirates' lineup and playing well, Freese doesn't necessarily have an important spot left with Pittsburgh. Sure, the Pirates have tried him at first base, but his defense has been spotty during a small sample size and John Jaso is still getting on base at a .371 clip. A trade of Freese and his affordable salary to the Royals could be a match made in heaven.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox