Counsell: Former All-Star 3B Moustakas will play 2nd in spring

The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly re-signed two-time All-Star third baseman Mike Moustakas on Sunday, but he might not see a minute at the hot corner this year.

Once he arrives at camp, the Brewers plan to shift Moustakas to second base - a position he's never played in the majors - and use him there on an everyday basis if his spring audition works out, manager Craig Counsell told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Travis Shaw would shift back to third if the plan comes to fruition.

"I don't think we're going to see something that we don't completely expect, but I think it's worth it in spring training," Counsell said. "I talked to Mike a couple of weeks ago about it, actually. He was on board the first time (it was discussed) and he's still on board."

Moustakas has made 941 career appearances on defense, with 937 of those coming as a third baseman. He started four games at first base last year while still with the Kansas City Royals. The last time he played middle infield was in 2008 when he manned shortstop as a 19-year-old prospect.

Using Moustakas at the keystone would essentially be the reverse of how the Brewers solved this same logjam last year. After acquiring him from Kansas City in a July trade, Counsell installed Moustakas at third while shifting Shaw - also a natural corner infielder - to second. Shaw, who was one of nine second baseman Counsell used last year, ended up playing 48 games there over the last two months of the season and playoffs.

Veteran Corey Spangenberg, who joined Milwaukee on a one-year deal this winter, had been expected to come away with the second-base job before Moustakas returned to the team. Milwaukee is primarily using short-term solutions at the position until top prospect Keston Hiura is ready to take over.

Moustakas played 54 games with the Brewers after joining them last July, putting up a .767 OPS with eight homers.