Reds bring back C Casali, designate Moustakas

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.

"I called him a few hours ago and talked to him. Obviously, [he's] disappointed," Reds general manager Nick Krall said. "He’s a professional guy and good person. He thanked me for the opportunity, and it was a short conversation."

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.

"With where we are from a younger standpoint and also trying to fill some holes, Moose has had some injuries over the last couple of years, which have limited him," Krall said. "We felt getting these two players [Myers and Casali] filled the hole that would’ve made Moose redundant, so we felt it was the right move at this time."

The 34-year-old Moustakas is owed $22 million in the final year of the deal, including the buyout for a 2024 option. It's the second offseason in a row the Reds had to eat money on a long-term contract. In March, the club released outfielder Shogo Akiyama with one year and $8 million remaining on his three-year, $21 million deal.

"I think we had to look at it more for what our team is next year. We’re already paying him," Krall said of Moustakas. "[It's] who is the best fit for our team moving forward. It was a tough decision. They are all tough decisions."

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.

During his time with the Reds, totalling 167 games, Casali batted .260 with a .785 OPS.

"I love the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region," Casali said. "It’s close to my home in Nashville. Me and my wife have a 3-month-old at home now. Honestly, I feel like I have unfinished business with the Reds. My time there ended prematurely. It stung at the time. Not many people get a chance to go back and hopefully finish what they start. I’m just excited for that opportunity.”

Adding Casali gives the Reds three catchers with regular Tyler Stephenson and veteran backup Luke Maile, who was signed to a one-year, $1.175 million contract on Nov. 28. Casali had a good working relationship with manager David Bell and pitching coach Derek Johnson during his previous tenure in Cincinnati.

“We had conversations with him when we were talking to Luke," Krall said. "Frankly, I like Curt as a guy. He fits well on a team. He works well with the staff, it’s something we’ve known. He’s very good with the pitchers. D.J. has comfort with him. David has comfort with him. He’s a guy that can just slot right in and do what he needs to do and help our young starters get better. He also provides some offense, especially against left-handed pitching.”

Stephenson is coming off a 2022 season marred by injuries that cost him 107 games, including almost the entire second half because of a fractured right clavicle. He has since healed and has resumed hitting and catching.

The Casali signing provides catching insurance should Stephenson get banged up again. But it also enables Bell to create a lineup that makes more use of Stephenson's strong bat.

"This will allow us to not have to worry about as many days off and catching in a row," Krall said. "It will allow us to use the DH spot, the first-base spot depending on where Joey is and what his needs are coming back from injury. We are excited about this because it allows you to put Tyler in the lineup just about every day.”

With the signings of Myers and Casali, the Reds have likely hit the limit on their 2023 payroll budget. Entering the offseason and again during the Winter Meetings, Krall noted that he had only limited flexibility to make additions.

Cincinnati wouldn't mind adding a veteran starting pitcher, but that might be difficult.

"I think we've got to be creative moving forward," Krall said. "I think we'll figure out what the rest of the offseason brings and if there's something we can maneuver through this offseason, I think we're going to just have to figure out how to take advantage of that and be creative."