Milwaukee Brewers: Was it right to add Moustakas?

What have the Milwaukee Brewers added in Mike Moustakas? Let’s take a look at his recent production…

Each year the Milwaukee Brewers throw their name into the hat before the trade deadline. Fans sit around wondering what moves will made while keeping a close eye on prospects they hope will not get traded away. This year, the team has a great chance if they can make it through the regular season. However, this team needed, ANYTHING before the trading deadline. They choose to add Mike Moustakas from the Kansas City Royals

Moustakas brings a nice bat

Now that the Moustakas trade is complete, we should take a minute to look at the stats. In the first half of 2018, Moustakas played in 91 games, smacking 19 home runs and driving in 58 RBIs.

Mike also led the Kansas City Royals with 42 runs scored, 165 total bases and had the second best slugging percentage on the team heading into the All-Star break.

That is decent production when you consider the Milwaukee Brewers best hitter right now is Jesus Aguilar. He had 24 home runs and 70 RBIs through the same number of games in the first half. Moustakas’ production will fit right in with the top half of the Brewers lineup.

Is this the move that the Brewers HAD to make? This question is unanswered until the end of the season. It really depends on how Moustakas pans out on the offensive side of the ball.

The team needed a boost after the All-Star break

Leading into the All-Star break, the Milwaukee Brewers were not doing so well. They clearly needed some kind of reset. The bullpen was giving up games late and the offense just seemed to go nowhere.

It was because of they way they ended the first half that the team fell out of first place in the NL Central. Some fans might have argued that putting a trade together for an ace of a pitcher would have been a better option. The rotation is solid on paper, but still young.

Taking on Moustakas might not have been the best choice, but it will shake up the infield a bit. However, the team is growing and moves like this are typical of that.

The second half was a struggle for the Milwaukee Brewers last year, but for a year that chalked up for “rebuilding”. The fact that they finished six games behind the first place Chicago Cubs was a positive first step. Now they have to continue to make steps forward with additions like Moustakas.