CINCINNATI — The Reds made a move to shore up their catching depth on Thursday by bringing back free agent Curt Casali on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2024. While adding Casali — and outfielder Wil Myers earlier in the day — the club made room on the 40-man roster by designating third baseman Mike Moustakas for assignment.
Moving on from Moustakas was not a surprise move by Cincinnati, but it will be a costly one with one year left on his four-year, $64 million contract.
Hurt by injuries and limited fitness during his three-year tenure, Moustakas batted .216 with a .683 OPS and 21 home runs over just 184 games from 2020-22 and saw his defensive skills wane at third base. With prospect Spencer Steer expected to compete for the regular third-base job, there wasn’t a full-time spot for Moustakas to play.
The 34-year-old Moustakas is owed $22 million in the final year of the deal, including the buyout for a 2024 option.
Casali, 34, batted .203 with five homers in 57 games last season for the Giants and Mariners. He spent 2018-20 with the Reds backing up Tucker Barnhart and earned a reputation for working well with pitchers and providing some right-handed power.
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