Cubs: Ranking the 7 worst contracts in the NL Central

Cubs: Ranking the 7 worst contracts in the NL Central - #3: Mike Moustakas

In Dec. 2019, the Cincinnati Reds gave Mike Moustakas a four-year, $64 million contract in hopes he could bring the same level of performance he showed with the Brewers that season, when he earned the second All-Star selection of his career.

During the Royals' run in the middle of the 2010s, Moustakas was a critical piece on the roster, but he pretty clearly wasn't that guy from the start of this deal with Cincinnati. Since the start of the 2020 campaign, he's slashed .216/.300/.383 and has been about 20 percent worse than the average offensive player in the league.

Similar to the Cubs and Heyward, the Reds dumped Moustakas with $22 million left on his deal - and they're on the hook for all of that but the league minimum here in 2023. That's a huge chunk of change for a small market team like Cincinnati and, unlike with Votto, there's never been a point where he's earned his keep. This one continues hurts if you're a Reds fan. The only good news is it's (finally) almost over.