Not only is free agency heating up, but the trade market is as well. It was announced today that the Texas Rangers have acquired starting pitcher Matt Moore, along with $750,000 in international signing bonus pool money, from the San Francisco Giants. In exchange, the Giants acquire pitchers Sam Wolff and Israel Cruz. The teams have both confirmed the move.
The #SFGiants have traded LHP Matt Moore to the #Rangers along with international signing bonus pool money in exchange for minor league RHPs Sam Wolff & Israel Cruz.
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) December 16, 2017
Texas Rangers Acquire Matt Moore
Player Profiles
Moore was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 8th round of the 2007 June Amateur Draft with the 245th overall pick. He made his MLB debut four years later, in the 2011 season. In his rookie year, Moore played in only three games, but pitched to a 2.89 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.
In only his third year in the league, Moore earned an All-Star nod. He finished 9th in Cy Young Award voting that year. That season, he finished with a 3.29 ERA and an impressive 175 strikeouts in 150.1 innings pitched. During that year, Moore also finished with his best record of his career, at 17-4. In six seasons with the Rays, Moore held a 3.88 ERA, with 494 strikeouts in 540 innings pitched.
Then, during the 2016 August trading period, Moore found himself shipped to the Giants. In exchange, the Rays acquired third baseman Matt Duffy, pitcher Michael Santos, and shortstop Lucius Fox. In his two years with the Giants, Moore notched a 5.12 ERA and 217 strikeouts in 242.2 innings pitched. Across his career, Moore has a 4.27 ERA and 711 strikeouts in 782.2 innings pitched.
Wolff has been known for his explosive fastball that already reaches the mid-90s for speed. He was drafted by the Rangers in the 6th round in 2013, and played for the Triple-A around Rock Express last year.
Cruz is still a young prospect at the age of 20. After four seasons in the Rookie League, Cruz has 127 strikeouts in 150 innings pitched. He has not gotten past the Rookie League yet, and most recently pitched for the Arizona League Rangers.
Trade Analysis
The Rangers continue to build on a strong focus on acquiring steady pitching this offseason. With the signings of Mike Minor and Doug Fister, the team continues to rebuild their rotation. The Giants, on the other hand, get two prospects who could both turn out to be special, but will need time to grow. Moore will go back to the American League and help the Rangers rebuild one of the roughest rotations in baseball from a year ago.
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