The Moose has been loose for months, and that may not change in the near future.

The New York Yankees have recently been in contact with free-agent third baseman Mike Moustakas, though people close to the team believe a union between the two sides remains a "long shot," FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.

Signing Moustakas could push the Yankees toward the luxury-tax threshold, and the team has remained committed to avoid further penalties.

The 29-year-old Moustakas doesn't have a contract in place as pitchers and catchers begin to report to spring training despite coming off a career year where he blasted 38 home runs (his previous high was 22) with 85 RBIs while hitting .272/.314/.521 over 148 games with the Kansas City Royals. His efforts won him the American League's Comeback Player of the Year award.

Performance isn't seen as the deterrent, as teams were reportedly scared off by agent Scott Boras' asking price, and the fact that whichever team signs him will have to relinquish a compensation draft pick as he rejected a qualifying offer after the season.

The market has thus been cold for Moustakas. The New York Mets were reportedly interested, but that was before they signed Todd Frazier. Likewise, the Los Angeles Angels tossed the idea of signing Moustakas around before settling on Zack Cozart to man the hot corner.

If the Yankees don't add an alternative, rookie Miguel Andujar is expected to be the team's starting third baseman on Opening Day.