Mike Moustakas signs minor league contract

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Manager Pedro Grifol used the word “winner” to describe Mike Moustakas.

“He is a proven winner and has always been a winner,” Grifol said Thursday afternoon. “He’s been a winner since high school. So I think adding that edge and that championship pedigree to the clubhouse and having him come here and compete for a job is a really good thing for us.”

The Chicago White Sox signed the veteran infielder to a minor league deal on Wednesday evening. He will be at the team’s camp as a non-squad guest.

Grifol and general manager Chris Getz have had ties to Moustakas since their time with the Kansas City Royals.

“Knowing Mike, when he really has something to prove, he still wants to go out there and prove he can be a productive major leaguer,” Getz said. “I felt like it was a good idea because I knew he had that in his mindset right now.

“It’s a minor league deal, he’s got to show us what he can do. But to have someone of his pedigree — he’s been to two World Series, he’s won a World Series, he’s been an All Star — so for him to come in here and be around the players and compete for a spot is a very tough one.” “It seemed like the obvious move to make. I’m excited to have him be a part of this group.”

Moustakas was a key player for the Royals who won the World Series in 2015. Grifol was on the coaching staff at the time and Getz was working in the front office. Getz played for the Royals from 2010-13, and Moustakas made his big league debut with the Royals in 2011.

“It’s more about the individuals,” Getz said when asked if some of the new faces had connections to the Royal family. “We’ve been friends over the years and I know what he can bring to the table, most importantly as a player. Maybe it’s allowed me to get a different kind of access. Why not take advantage of something like that?”

“I have a lot of respect for this person, the player and the family. We want him to come here and be productive and help us win games and that’s the most important thing. But when it comes to connections with the Royals, I look at the individual. If it’s going to benefit me, because it’s a longer term.” It has a history, so be it.”

Moustakas, 35, has a career slash line of .247/.307/.431 with 215 home runs and 683 RBI in 1,427 games over 13 major league seasons with the Royals (2011-18), Milwaukee Brewers (2018-19). Cincinnati Reds (2020-22), Colorado Rockies (2023) and Los Angeles Angels (2023). He earned All-Star selections in 2015, ’17 and ’19.

He had a career-best .284 batting average during the 2015 World Series championship season. He hit a career-best 35 home runs and won the American League Comeback Player of the Year award in 2017.

Moustakas had a combined line of .247/.293/.392 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs in 112 games for the Rockies (47 games) and Angels (65) last season.

The majority of his career has come at third base (1,106). He also played first (77 career starts) and second (72).

He became the 29th non-roster invited to Sox camp, two days after the team signed pitchers Corey Knebel and Dominic Leone to minor league deals.

“You look for a competitive advantage, and I think one of the competitive advantages we had this offseason was opportunities,” Getz said. “I think that has been seen in some of the players who have been willing to come here. minor league deals even major league deals. “There is a long list of players who can offer a lot to a big league club and we will take advantage of that.”

The Sox plan to remain active if the opportunity arises.

“There’s not a day that goes by that you don’t think about improving your roster,” Getz said. “As spring training or the season progresses, making moves to improve your roster becomes a little more limiting and difficult. However, we are in a period where there are players still there, some free agents are not signed, and there are discussions in terms of trades.

“We are still getting calls from managers and other teams and we will try to improve. “This won’t stop.”