Report: Red Sox have scouted Royals' Moustakas

The failings at the hot corner for the Boston Red Sox have been highly publicized. Big money infielder Pablo Sandoval has spent an increasing amount of time on the bench, but none of his replacements have set the world afire.

It makes sense, then, that the Red Sox would be interested in adding a third baseman via trade before the non-waiver trade deadline. ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Boston has recently scouted Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas.

The Red Sox have already been linked to power hitting Chicago White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier but, as Olney points out, Frazier would be yet another right-handed bat in a lineup already chock-full of them. Not counting a pair of switch-hitters, the only active lefties are Mitch Moreland, Andrew Benintendi, and Jackie Bradley Jr.

Moustakas could provide more balance throughout the lineup. He may also carry a steeper price tag since he's had a more productive season than Frazier.

The problem, as Olney puts it, is the Royals have not shown an interest to test the trade market yet. With plenty of pending free agents on the roster combined with a woeful start to the season, a housecleaning seemed inevitable. Kansas City has been somewhat hot of late. Winners of four straight, and six of their last 10, the Royals are only four games back of the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins. Despite a losing record, they're not out of contention.

Still, the Red Sox are expected to try to address their issues at third base. Scouting Moustakas could simply be due diligence.