Moustakas agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Royals on Thursday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The surprisingly discounted deal apparently contains a mutual $15 million option for 2019 while also being fairly incentive-laden in 2018. Moustakas' return to Kansas City is a near worst-case scenario for fantasy purposes, as the rebuilding Royals currently project to roll out one of the worst Opening Day lineups in the league. The 29-year-old should slot in as the team's everyday third baseman and will hit in the heart of the order, but fantasy owners should temper their expectations when it comes to Moustakas repeating his 38-homer campaign from 2017.

Moustakas' agent Scott Boras suggested Tuesday that his client could wait to sign with a team until after the first-year player draft in June, when draft-pick compensation would no longer be attached to the third baseman, Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star reports. "The teams are coming, and Moose is going to be playing baseball," Boras said, while expressing his frustration with free agents like Moustakas being "weighed down" by increasing draft-pick compensation in the current collective bargaining agreement. "But I don't control time, and I don't control competitiveness. The question is when do those teams want to commit to winning, and of course I think he'll be playing, yes."

EDGE Analysis

Fresh off his career-high 38-homer campaign, Moustakas remains the top bat available in free agency, but some combination of lofty salary demands, a lack of contending clubs in need of a major upgrade at third base and the draft-pick compensation any team would have to surrender to Kansas City in order to sign him has resulted in a cool market for the 29-year-old. Moustakas has kept himself prepared for the upcoming season by taking grounders and swings as part of a simulated spring training in California, but there's been no indication that he's close to signing with a team. The uncertainty regarding when and with whom Moustakas will sign had already dropped his acquisition cost in both fantasy auctions and drafts, and that may only plunge further if Boras is serious about holding Moustakas out until a suitable offer is presented. There's a precedent for Boras free agents waiting deep into the season before reaching deals with teams, as Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales both remained unsigned until late May and early June, respectively, during the 2014 campaign.

Moustakas declined the Royals' qualifying offer and became a free agent Thursday, Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Although it was expected that Moustakas would reject Kansas City's offer, the news was made official just ahead of Thursday's deadline. The third baseman will look for a large multi-year offer after slashing .272/.314/.521 with 38 home runs and 85 RBI last season.

The Royals made a qualifying offer to Moustakas prior to Monday's deadline, the Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's expected that Moustakas will turn down the $17.4 million offer for 2018 and ink a multi-year deal with winter. Whether he, Eric Hosmer, or Lorenzo Cain ended up returning to Kansas City on a long-term deal is very much up in the air at this point. The Royals will receive a pick after the end of the first round of the 2018 first-year player draft if Moustakas inks a deal with another club worth $50 million or more , while they'll receive a compensatory pick after the second round if the new contract is worth less than $50 million.

Moustakas recorded three base hits in his four at-bats in Friday's 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

With only three home runs in 82 at-bats in September, Moustakas' power production has dipped down the stretch, but it's still been enough for him to establish a new franchise record with 38 long balls on the campaign. The third baseman is at least helping fantasy owners down the stretch in the batting-average department, with his three hits Friday bringing his mark up to .324 over his last 10 contests.

Moustakas is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Moustakas heads to the bench in favor of Cheslor Cuthbert as manager Ned Yost begins the process of giving some regulars the day off following the Royals' elimination from playoff contention. Over the course of the season, Moustakas has slashed .271/.314/.523 with a franchise-record 38 home runs to go along with 85 RBI.

Moustakas is expected sit Thursday's game against the Tigers, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the Royals out of the playoff picture, manager Ned Yost will afford a few of his starters a day off as the season winds down. It will be Moustakas' final day off of 2017, as he's expected to start all three games against the Diamondbacks over the weekend. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season in which he's hit .271/.312/.526 with 38 homers in 143 games.

Moustakas went 3-for-4 with a double, his 37th homer and a pair of runs scored against the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

After seeing his 2016 cut short by injury, Moustakas has largely been making up for lost time this year, but he'd actually gone 15 games (plus another two spent entirely on the bench) without going yard before breaking that skid Wednesday. In fact, he's homered just thrice over the course of a slump that's consumed his last 33 contests; still, that can be chalked up to bad luck more than a bad approach, so fantasy owners shouldn't be considering benching the powerful third baseman.

Moustakas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Indians.

EDGE Analysis

Moustakas has had a tough time at the dish lately. Over the last seven games he's gone just 2-for-21 (.095) and struck out five times, bringing his batting average down to .271 from .277 in that stretch. He'll sit out Sunday while Cheslor Cuthbert starts at the hot corner.

Manager Ned Yost attributed Moustakas' (knee) absence from Tuesday's lineup as nothing more than a scheduled rest day, The Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Moose has been dealing with right knee irritation, and that was obvious Monday when the third baseman made a couple of errant throws to first base while pushing off his plant leg. His efforts at the plate have been underwhelming in recent weeks, too, further indicating something's not right. The playoffs are still on the radar for Kansas City, so Moustakas will surely push through the ailment, at least until the post season is out of reach.