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3 Reasons Why Mike Moustakas Would Be Good Fit for Phillies

By Matt Rappa

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 16: Mike Moustakas #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers in action during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 16: Mike Moustakas #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers in action during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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2. Health

TORONTO, ON – APRIL, 13 Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) walks off the field with a trainer after legging out a double in the 6th and hurting his right leg.The Toronto Blue Jays played the Baltimore Orioles in MLB action at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.April 13, 2017 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL, 13 Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) walks off the field with a trainer after legging out a double in the 6th and hurting his right leg.The Toronto Blue Jays played the Baltimore Orioles in MLB action at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.April 13, 2017 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Assuming signing Anthony Rendon is off the table due to high contract demands, comparing the 33-year-old Donaldson with the 31-year-old Moustakas, the Phillies might be wary of signing the former due to his injury history.

While Donaldson played in all but seven games with the Atlanta Braves this past season, he played in just 52 games in 2018, and 113 games in 2017, due to shoulder and lingering calf injuries.

The Phillies are no strangers to signing star players who end up missing a significant amount of time due to injury. Consider left fielder Andrew McCutchen and right-hander David Robertson playing just 59 and seven games respectively for the Phillies this past season, among others.

RELATED | Phillies 2019 season review: Injury ends promising campaign for Andrew McCutchen

“You just don’t know if you’re going to get the level of health that Josh Donaldson had in 2019,” Corey Seidman said on the podcast. “He hadn’t been that healthy the previous few years. He’s in line, too, for a three-year deal potentially around $20 million per year.”

Given Moustakas, two years younger than Donaldson, would likely come on a shorter, cheaper deal, he clearly profiles as a more attractive signing for the Joe Girardi-led Phillies. Moustakas missed significant time in 2016 due to a torn ACL, but has played now fewer than 143 games in his three seasons since.

“That feels like there’s way more of a chance of that deal not working out then that would be if you signed Mike Moustakas to a two-year deal,” Seidman said. “There’s also the idea that the Braves are trying to re-sign Donaldson, so that might be difficult for the Phillies to even achieve.”

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