The Following Press Release comes from the Cleveland Indians.
Indians acquire 2014 A.L. All-Star Brandon Moss from the Oakland Athletics
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has acquired 1B/OF BRANDON MOSS from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for INF JOEY WENDLE.
Moss, 31, is coming off his first career All-Star selection in 2014, hitting .234 (117-500) with 23 doubles, 2 triples, 25 home runs and 81 RBI in a career-high 147 games. He walked a career-high 67 times and scored 70 runs while posting a season-long OPS of .772. Moss hit .268 (86-321) with 17 2B, 21 HR and 66RBI in 89 games during his All-Star first half before injuries slowed him in the second half. He ranked in the top 10 in the American League in home runs (T5th, 21), RBI (6th, 66), extra-base hits (T6th, 40) and SLG (8th, .530) at the All-Star Break and was 10th in the A.L. in RBI (76) as late as August 18th. The left-handed hitting native of Loganville, GA offers positional flexibility, having appeared last season in 67 games at first base, 56 games in left field and 34 games in right field for the Athletics.
The eight-year Major League veteran owns a career Major League average of .248 (468-1889) with 102 doubles, 91 home runs and 298 RBI in 625 games with Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Oakland. He was Boston’s 8th round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of Loganville (GA) High School, debuting with the Sox in August of 2007. He joined the Oakland Athletics as a free agent prior to the 2012 season, posting 20-homer seasons in each of his three campaigns in the Bay Area as his home ratio of 15.93 ranks 9th among MLB hitters in that span (AB per HR; min. 1300 plate apps). His 55 combined home runs in 2013-14 rank tied 13th in MLB with Paul Goldschmidt and Anthony Rizzo. After connecting for 2 home runs and 5 RBI in the American League Wild Card loss at Kansas City, he underwent right hip surgery (torn labrum/impingement) on October 23 and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2015 Championship Season.
“The addition of Brandon Moss provides our offense with a proven run-producer and power bat for the heart of our order,” said Cleveland Indians Executive Vice President and General Manager CHRIS ANTONETTI. “”Brandon not only has great power, but his defensive versatility and personality also complement the team culture Tito has helped establish over the past two years.”
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