Moustakas has gone 3-for-6 with a home run in Cactus League action this spring.
Moustakas signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies on March 5 and had been ramping up by participating in live batting practice. He's since been in the lineup twice, with one appearance coming at designated hitter and the other third base. If Moustakas can remain healthy, he should have a chance to make the team out of spring training, though he'll have to surpass at least Elehuris Montero in order to have a regular spot in the lineup.
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Rockies' Mike Moustakas: Takes live batting practice
Rotowire
Moustakas took live batting practice Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Moustakas signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies on Sunday and has yet to appear in game action. However, he's participated in fielding drills and is now ramping up with the bat. After the injury to Brendan Rodgers (shoulder), it's possible that Moustakas will wind up on Colorado's Opening Day roster.
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Rockies' Mike Moustakas: Says he's fully healthy
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Moustakas (calf) said Sunday that he's fully healthy, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Moustakas joined the Rockies on a minor-league contract Sunday morning, and the expectation is that he can help cover for the loss of Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) on the Colorado infield. He appeared in only 78 games for the Reds last season due to a range of different injuries. It was a calf strain that officially shut him down in August.
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Rockies' Mike Moustakas: Added by COL on NRI deal
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Moustakas (calf) agreed Sunday to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Moustakas was released by the Reds shortly after being designated for assignment in January. The infielder has dealt with injuries the last few years, including a calf injury that caused him to miss the final six weeks of the 2022 campaign. He wasn't particularly effective when healthy last season as seen in a .214/.295/.345 slash line in 78 appearances. Moustakas will get a chance to win a spot on Colorado's bench to open the 2023 campaign, and a potentially season-ending injury to Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) might even give him a path to semi-regular playing time at third base.
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Mike Moustakas: Cut loose by Cincinnati
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) was released by the Reds on Thursday.
The 34-year-old was designated for assignment by the Reds ahead of Christmas, and he'll now hit the open market after he passed through waivers unclaimed. Moustakas missed the last six weeks of 2022 with a calf injury and finished the campaign with a .214/.295/.345 slash line in 78 contests.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: DFA'd by Cincy
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) was designated for assignment by the Reds on Thursday.
The 34-year-old missed the final six weeks of last season with a calf injury, and he won't be returning to the Reds in 2023. Cincinnati still owes Moustakas $22 million -- $18 million for his 2023 salary and a $4 million buyout for 2024 -- but the team decided it was time to move on after he posted a .212/.289/.356 slash line over the past two years. Given the remaining contract, Moustakas is likely to go unclaimed on waivers and should hit free agency.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: May not be part of team's plans
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) doesn't appear to be in line for a regular role with the Reds in 2023, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "He's on our roster," general manager Nick Krall said, when asked about Moustakas at a recent fan event.
The Reds were willing to eat outfielder Shogo Akiyama's contract last season when they determined that Akiyama no longer had a role with the team, and that might be the same path they take with Moustakas this season. A healthy Joey Votto (shoulder) should reclaim everyday duties at first base during the upcoming season, and Moustakas' other avenues to playing time at designated hitter or third base could also be blocked with Cincinnati presumably keen on giving some of its younger hitters opportunities. Before his 2022 campaign came to an end in late August with a left calf strain, Moustakas posted a .640 OPS -- the second-worst mark of his career -- and a career-high 26.3 percent strikeout rate over 285 plate appearances.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Won't return in 2022
Rotowire
The Reds transferred Moustakas (calf) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.
The transaction officially ends Moustakas' season while clearing a spot on the 40-man roster for infield prospect Spencer Steer, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. With Moustakas on the shelf, Donovan Solano should be locked into a full-time role at first base the rest of the way, allowing the Reds to rotate a number of players through the designated hitter spot. Moustakas ends his third season in Cincinnati with a .214/.295/.345 slash line across 285 plate appearances, marking the second straight year he'll finish with an OPS under .700. The 34-year-old is under contract for $18 million in 2023.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Moustakas was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain Saturday, retroactive to Aug. 24.
Moustakas missed the last three games due to his calf injury and will ultimately require a trip to the injured list. However, he'll be eligible to return in early September since the move was backdated to Wednesday. Colin Moran's contract was selected Saturday, and he should have a chance to carve out playing time while Moustakas and Matt Reynolds (hip) are sidelined.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Remains out
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) remains on the bench for Friday's game against the Nationals.
Moustakas will sit for the third straight game, with the Reds having little incentive to rush the oft-injured veteran at the tail end of a lost season. Donovan Solano will make another start at first base in his absence.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Still not starting
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) isn't starting Thursday against the Phillies.
Moustakas continues to deal with a left calf injury and will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Donovan Solano will shift to first base while Kyle Farmer serves as the designated hitter Thursday.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Not starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) isn't starting Wednesday against the Phillies.
Moustakas exited Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia due to a left calf injury and will be held out of the lineup a day later. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but Donovan Solano will start at first base and bat cleanup.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Aggravates calf issue
Rotowire
Moustakas was removed from Tuesday's loss to the Phillies with a left calf injury, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 33-year-old returned from a left calf strain last week, and he may have aggravated the injury Tuesday after going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Manager David Bell said Moustakas was feeling good after the contest, so it's possible the veteran is only dealing with a cramp.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Records RBI in win
Rotowire
Moustakas went 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored in Saturday's win over the Pirates.
Moustakas recorded an RBI single in the ninth off lefty reliever Eric Stout to augment the Reds' lead to five. The third baseman has struggled mightily, slashing .056/.150/.056 in 18 at-bats over the seven games prior to his stint on the 10-day IL (calf). Despite the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark, the 33-year-old has performed better on the road with a .671 OPS in 128 at-bats compared to a .554 OPS in 111 at-bats at home.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Moustakas will return to the Reds after missing the minimum 10 days while nursing a calf strain. The 33-year-old has struggled to a .120 average with a solo homer and two runs scored over 25 at-bats in 10 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Hoping to return this week
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf), according to Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer, is "determined" to return to action Friday when first eligible.
Moustakas landed on the injured list last week, but he is hoping to return to action after missing only the minimum 10 days. The Reds figure to provide another update on Moustakas' status in the coming days.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Goes on IL with calf strain
Rotowire
The Reds placed Moustakas on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left calf strain.
Moustakas was one of the three Reds that was either scratched from the lineup or lifted early in Monday's 5-1 loss to the Mets with an injury, and though Kyle Farmer (neck) and Jonathan India (hamstring) are back in action Tuesday, Moustakas wasn't as fortunate. He'll now be sidelined until at least Aug. 19 due to the calf issue, paving the way for Donovan Solano to take over as the Reds' primary designated hitter.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Unavailable Tuesday
Rotowire
Moustakas (calf) is not in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Mets.
Moustakas suffered a calf injury in Monday's loss and will now be forced to miss at least one game while nursing the issue. Donovan Solano will take over at designated hitter and bat fifth Tuesday.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Departs with calf injury
Rotowire
Moustakas left Monday's game against the Mets due to a left calf injury, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Moustakas was spotted hobbling on the basepaths early in the contest, and he was removed shortly after. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time.
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Reds' Mike Moustakas: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Moustakas will sit Friday against the Brewers.
Moustakas finds himself on the bench for the third time in four games. All of his absences have come against lefties like Friday's starter Eric Lauer. Donovan Solano will be the designated hitter in his place.
