Brandon Moss to the Texas Rangers?
Jun 25, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman
Brandon Moss(37) hits a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the first inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Billy Beane should consider adding Oakland Athletics to the list of Brandon Moss’ former employers.
It would make for the saddest two days in recent Oakland memory with yesterday’s trade of Josh Donaldson, but Moss makes for a perfect trade candidate as well.
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The A’s are reportedly looking to deal a left-handed hitter. Why does trading Moss make great sense?
Barring any health setbacks, Brandon Moss is likely to return to his home run-hitting ways in 2015. In perhaps his greatest reclamation project, Beane put Moss in the position to recover from “failed prospect” status in 2012. Why couldn’t he recover from last season’s abysmal second half?
Billy Butler, Kyle Blanks (?), Nate Freiman, and Ike Davis would still be here to pick up the slack. Each comes with his own warts, like Moss did, but each also has potential to fall right in line with what Moss has done in two-plus seasons in green and gold.
Moss can earn a little more than $7.1 million in 2015, according to MLB trade rumors. Not bad for a power hitter with multi-position flexibility.
As the Athletics search for a shortstop, could they be looking for someone with more of a future in Oakland than just 2015 and 2016? Perhaps a future double-play partner for top prospect Daniel Robertson would suffice.
The Texas Rangers are rumored to be interested in Atlanta Braves slugger Justin Upton who has one more year of club control. I think Moss makes just as much sense as Upton. Although the Rangers are searching for right handed hitters, Moss could form a nice lefty-righty-lefty combination with Prince Fielder, and Adrian Beltre. He is less expensive, is under control for longer than Upton, and would not be much of a defensive downgrade.
The Rangers have a couple of options at middle infield. Perhaps a Brandon Moss for Jurickson profar or Rougned Odor swap could be in order?
Odor has logged nearly all of his professional innings at second base, but 15 games at shortstop in single-A two years ago says it isn’t out of the question for him to make a switch in the majors. Profar was once prospect royalty. But after a disappointing introduction to the bigs in 2012 and 2013 and missing all of 2014, he is primed for a change of scenery. Both can hit. Both have a little speed. Both can play multiple infield positions.
Is this deal likely? I don’t think so. Does it make sense for both sides? Yes.
The Rangers also need starting pitching to slot behind Yu Darvish and Derek Holland. I could see the addition of Scott Kazmir, or even Jesse Chavez, making this deal a little more tasty for Texas.
Would you be a fan of an inter-division trade of this sort? Is there another destination that makes sense for Moss? Tweet at me, or leave your thoughts in the comments below.