Athletics trade Brandon Moss to Indians
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The Oakland Athletics continued to reshuffle their roster Monday, trading left-handed power hitter Brandon Moss to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for minor-league infielder Joey Wendle.
Moss, 31, clubbed 25 home runs for the Athletics last season, marking the third straight year he's eclipsed the 20-homer benchmark. His first-half OPS of .878 helped earn Moss his first career All-Star selection, but a hip injury slowed his production dramatically after the break. The eight-year veteran hit .173 with four homers over the final three months of the season.
Monday's trade was the first swap of the winter meetings in San Diego, but just the latest in a series of moves by Athletics general manager Billy Beane. Since last summer's trade deadline, Beane has moved Moss, Josh Donaldson and Yoenis Cespedes.
Moss has been an above-average run producer the last three seasons, but Oakland's free-agent acquisition of Billy Butler further muddied a logjam at first base and designated hitter.
| Moss 2012-14 | HR | OPS | wOBA | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 21 | .954 | .402 | 2.3 |
| 2013 | 30 | .859 | .369 | 1.9 |
| 2014 | 25 | .772 | .339 | 2.3 |
The Indians, meanwhile, were in search of a power hitter to help provide depth at their corner outfield positions and insurance behind Carlos Santana at first base. Moss, who underwent hip surgery in October to repair torn cartilage, is expected to be ready at some point during spring training.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Moss to earn $7.1 million in his second year of arbitration this winter.
In Wendle, the Athletics receive a second baseman considered to be close to contributing at the major-league level.
The 24-year-old prospect hit 16 homers in 107 games at Class-A in 2013 before slashing a combined .265/.326/.425 across two levels this past season.
Wendle's development at Double-A last year was stalled, however, after breaking the hamate bone in his right wrist. He returned before the end of the year is expected to be fully recovered in time for next season.
The trade also creates a surplus of offensive contributors for the Indians. With Carlos Santana entrenched as the club's starting first baseman, Moss figures to compete for playing time with Nick Swisher and David Murphy, unless Cleveland looks to alleviate its stockpile with another trade.