The Kansas City Royals have little to worry about heading into the 2015 season after avoiding arbitration with their starting third baseman and receiving good news regarding the recovery of one of their outfielders.
Mike Moustakas settled with the Royals on a one-year, $2.64 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The 26-year-old filed for a $3.1 million salary in his first year of arbitration eligibility, but Kansas City countered with $1.85 million. The two sides arrived at the midway point on Tuesday, which is still significantly higher than his $549K salary in 2014, and Moustakas will also earn an additional $10K if he makes 550 plate appearances in 2015 (he made 500 last season).
After his first full season in the majors in 2012, the third baseman slashed .242/.296/.412 with 69 runs scored, 20 home runs and 73 RBIs in 149 games. However, he's witnessed a significant decline in his offensive production since and has batted .223/.279/.363 with 27 home runs and 96 RBIs over the past two seasons (276 games). Although his average and on-base percentage didn't improve during the postseason in 2014, he smacked five home runs and seven RBIs in 55 plate appearances and had a .558 slugging percentage and .817 OPS.
The former second overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft might be facing a make-or-break season in 2015.
Speaking of second overall picks, outfielder Alex Gordon is currently recovering from offseason wrist surgery that was required to repair a damaged tendon. The 30-year-old played through the injury for much of the season and helped the Royals to their first postseason and World Series appearances since 1985. He underwent the procedure in December and it was believed his status for Opening Day might be in jeopardy, but Gordon cleared the air regarding his health over the weekend.
"[Missing] Opening Day hasn't even crossed my mind," he said, via Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com. "We're talking about missing a week of Spring Training. That's it ... If it feels good, we'll be aggressive with it. If not, we'll go slow. Just be smart."
Gordon is entering the final year of his four-year, $37.5 million contract that carries a $12.5 million player option for the 2016 season. He slashed .266/.351/.432 with 19 home runs, 74 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 2014 and earned his second consecutive All-Star honors and fourth straight Gold Glove award.
He'll try to help the Royals to their second consecutive postseason appearance since the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
