Cincinnati Reds activate Mike Moustakas from injured list

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds had big news regarding one of the players to whom they had doled out a potential $64 million contract in free agency prior to the start of the 2020 season. That, of course, was the return of Nick Castellanos to the lineup after he’d been on the injured list with a broken wrist, the result of being hit by a pitch.

Today, they backed it up with another return of a $64 million man, only this time it’s one that took a lot, lot longer to materialize. As the Reds themselves announced on Twitter, Mike Moustakas has officially been activated off the 60-day IL, and is back.

Moose had been dealing with a number of foot issues, namely plantar fascitis, which is one of the more painful damn things I’ve ever personally dealt with in my entire life. After missing a couple of months, hopefully he’s found a way to put that in the rear-view mirror, something his limited action (and great success) while on rehab with AAA Louisville suggest is the case.

Now, though, the obvious question is how manager David Bell will begin to shuffle his lineup. Eugenio Suarez has been smashing the ball the last week or so, but his overall work at 3B both offensively and defensively has been moribund this season, meaning he’s likely the first one to hit the bench among the infield bats for Moose. Kyle Farmer has been hotter for longer at SS, while Jonathan India has staked his claim as the 2B of both the present and future, meaning it’s likely there will be a big name tasked with bench duties almost every day going forward.

(That’s a good, good problem to have, by the way. It’ll all work itself out.)

As the Reds also mentioned, it was Mike Freeman who made way off the active roster for Moose, as he was optioned to AAA.

Welcome back, Mr. Moose, and here’s to swatting dingers-a-plenty during a playoff chase.