Possible Offseason Targets for San Francisco Giants: Mike Moustakas

Through the month of October we’ll look at several different targets this offseason that the San Francisco Giants could possibly pursue. We continue this list with third baseman Mike Moustakas.

The big left-handed bat is coming off his best season in the major leagues. He hit .272 with 38 home runs, 75 runs scored and 85 RBI.

The runs, home runs and RBI were career-highs. The only time he’s hit better than .272 was in 2015 when he hit .284.

In seven years with the Kansas City Royals he has a career average of .251 and 119 home runs. He’s hit 20 or more home runs in three of those seasons now, but only in five of those seasons did he receive more than 500 at-bats.

The San Francisco Giants definitely need an upgrade at third base this offseason. He’ll be the top free agent third baseman on the market by a lot, so you know the price on him will be high.

I’m a little concerned with Moustakas only because we’ve seen him have one great year. Outside of 2017 he’s been pretty mediocre at the plate.

I don’t think he is the 38 home run a season hitter that we saw in 2017. But I do think he’s capable of hitting 25-plus home runs a season for the next five years.

The Giants need that kind of power in their lineup, but I don’t know if it’s worth it for his subpar average. At best he’s a .280 hitter, but he most likely settles in around .270 or .275.

I still think that’s a major upgrade for the Giants at third base if they can get a guy who will bat .275 with 25-plus home runs for the next five years.

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Moustakas will most likely demand a five year deal for around $16 million a year. The Giants have a lot of holes they need to fill this winter, and they’ll have to decide if third base is their biggest hole. If so, then I think they go out and get this deal done with Moustakas.

When thinking about signing third baseman longterm, you can’t help but think about Pablo Sandoval. The Giants offered Pablo similar money to what Moustakas will be asking at a similar age, and we all know how that ended for the Boston Red Sox.

But, you can also look at cases like Adrian Beltre. Many thought he only played for the contract, but is now a future Hall of Famer.

Next: Possible Offseason Targets for the San Francisco Giants: Bryan Shaw

It’s not an easy decision with Moustakas — and I definitely don’t think the Hall of Fame is in his future — but if the San Francisco Giants feel he’s their best chance to upgrade at third base, go get him.