Royals trade Moustakas to Brewers for Phillips, Lopez

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired two-time All-Star third baseman Mike Moustakas from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Brett Phillips and right-handed reliever Jorge Lopez late Friday, the team announced.

It's Milwaukee's second major acquisition ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline in as many days after adding Joakim Soria to the bullpen Thursday.

Moustakas is hitting .249/.309/.468 with 20 home runs, 21 doubles, and 62 RBIs in 98 games this season and gives the Brewers another power bat near the middle of the order. The 29-year-old has played almost exclusively at third base for his career, but he's made four appearances at first base this season. He'll take over at the hot corner in Milwaukee, with the Brewers using Travis Shaw at second base regularly.

The move ends Moustakas' eight-year tenure in Kansas City, where he was part of the 2015 World Series-winning club. He's owed roughly $2 million for the remainder of this season and has a $15-million mutual option for 2019.

Phillips has appeared in 52 games at the major-league level over the past two seasons, but his path to regular playing time was blocked. In 52 games with the Brewers, he slashed .257/.331/.414 with four home runs. The 24-year-old hit .240/.331/.411 with six home runs, 12 doubles, and 11 stolen bases in Triple-A this season. It marks the second time Phillips has been traded at the deadline. He was a part of the 2015 Houston Astros blockbuster deal that sent him to Milwaukee along with Josh Hader, Domingo Santana and Adiran Houser.

Lopez has logged 31 2/3 innings with Milwaukee over three seasons. The 25-year-old posted a 2.75 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings this year.

The Brewers have not reached the postseason since 2011. They're 1 1/2 games back of the Chicago Cubs for the National League Central lead, and hold the NL's top wild-card spot.