MLB trade rumors: Yankees in on Royals’ Mike Moustakas, but with a twist

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is expected to be active before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline. With injuries to Masahiro Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery, along with inconsistencies from Sonny Gray and Domingo German, Cashman is expected to target a starting pitcher. But Cashman could have a trick up his sleeve.

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The Yankees open their three-game series with the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

General manager Brian Cashman is expected to be busy before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

Cashman has made it known he is shopping for starting pitching. Masahiro Tanaka is coming back from a pair of bum hamstrings. Jordan Montgomery is out for the season because of Tommy John surgery. Sonny Gray is at the best unreliable and at the worst a complete disaster.

The one thing the Yankees wouldn’t seem to need is another bat in the lineup. After all, the club leads the majors with 144 home runs.

But MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reports Cashman might have a trick up his sleeve in the name of Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas:

Multiple teams are interested in Moustakas as a first baseman, sources told MLB.com Thursday, and the Yankees are among the clubs that have considered trading for Moustakas and moving him across the diamond.

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The Yankees’ overall priority remains acquiring a starting pitcher, but the team also has explored infield upgrades in recent weeks — even before the injury to American League Rookie of the Year favorite Gleyber Torres.

Moustakas, 29, has played more than 900 games in the Majors but started only twice at first base; both instances came earlier this year. Moustakas has not played since Monday due to back spasms; he has a .784 OPS with 16 home runs in 82 games this season.

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That Cashman is considering a trade for a first baseman is an indictment of Greg Bird, and his inability to lock down the job at first base. He’s hitting just .200 this year in 32 games.

Moustakas was a free agent after the 2017 MLB season and was hoping for a big payday, along the lines of what J.D. Martinez got from the Red Sox (five years, $110 million).

But that deal never materialized and Moustakas returned to Kansas City on a one-year, $6.5 million contract.

Moustakas is hitting .258 this season with 16 home runs and 53 RBI. The 29-year-old hit a career-high 38 home runs last season.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.