Cleveland Sports Forum

I don't see much downside on this trade. Yes, Moss is coming off surgery, but Wendle is unproven at the ML level. Wish Moss could hit RH though.

sounds like he is a whiffer too. We could have just signed Russel Branyan for the 30th time.

Love that OPS of 772

772 is well above major league average and was topped on the Indians only by Brantley, who was nearly the MVP; and Gomes at 785 and Santana at 792. By comparison the guys Moss is being asked to replace were far lower:

Murphy 703
Swisher 648
Raburn 547

if Moss actually can play -- and my main reason for doubting his health -- is the insignificant price in talent that he cost us, he should be a significant improvement. And if he can be any where near his success of the previous year, with an OPS in the mid 800s, he'll be a core offensive player.

The only better hitter on the A's was Donaldson at 798 and he's gone too. Cespedes, who some people here love, was 767. Moss looks a fine addition and we gave away about our 20th best prospect to get him, unless the A's know something about Wendle no one else knows.

Found a Keith Law Q&A where he evaluated as an organizational player. That's what I had always assumed.

Yeah, the Beane counter has me a little worried......lets hope its regression to the mean.

Baseball America says:


Indians Acquire Moss From A’s For Wendle


December 8, 2014 by Vince Lara-Cinisomo













THE DEAL

Cleveland, looking for a versatile and powerful bat, acquired Brandon Moss from Oakland for second base prospect Joe Wendle.

Moss could fit in right field, after Nick Swisher had surgeries on both knees and David Murphy slugged .385, or at DH. Wendle’s a scrapper who was buried behind Jason Kipnis and other middle-infield options for Cleveland but could get a shot in Oakland, where Eric Sogard posted an OPS of .567.


3ds_indians82
INDIANS ACQUIRE
Brandon Moss, of/1b
Age: 31

Moss, an eighth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2002, was part of the three-team deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers in 2008. Moss landed in Pittsburgh and bounced to Philadelphia before blossoming with Oakland in 2012. Still just 31, Moss’ power will be welcome in Cleveland after the Indians finished ninth in the AL in homers. He helps fill a void with the uncertainty of Swisher’s health. Still, Moss comes with a health issue as well, as he had surgery on his right hip.

Oakland (AL) MAJ .234 147 500 70 117 23 2 25 81 67 153 1 .334 .438


3ds_athletics79
ATHLETICS ACQUIRE
Joe Wendle, 2b
Age: 24

Wendle signed for $10,000 as a sixth-round, senior sign after leading West Chester (Pa.) to its first-ever NCAA Division II national championship in 2012. His hit tool might be the only one that’s plus, but that could be enough to get him to the majors. He has a short, compact swing, an advanced feel for hitting and solid control of the strike zone. While his numbers don’t stand out, scouts say he uses the whole field and makes good contact. One scout likened Wendle to former Cardinals star Tommie Herr. The lefthanded hitter hangs in well against lefthanders. His work at second base still needs polishing, scouts say, but he has good hands and agility. He would have ranked near the back of the Indians’ top 30 prospects, had he not been traded.


Indians (AZL) R .455 6 22 8 10 1 1 0 4 4 4 1 .538 .591
Akron (EL) AA .253 87 336 46 85 20 5 8 50 26 56 4 .311

Moss can come down with a career ending hip injury and it would still have been a great trade. This is no lose. Who the hell is Wendle?

Tito knows Moss from his Boston days too. Must be a good dude that will fit in.

He's got the versatility that Tito loves, and he's always hit well at Progressive Field too, I see.

Billy Beane has made some bad trades. The Donaldson trade is one of his worst IMO.

Beane just dumped a guy thats going to get about $7M this year in arbitration and is recovering from major surgery on his hip. Could start the year on the DL. Wendle or a bag of balls is about right.

Billy Beane has made some HORRIBLE trades. No one is perfect.

Hmmm, he traded a certain Carlos Gonzalez to Colorado back in the day when Carlos was an unproven kid. Oops!

I think Seagull got it right. This is salary dump by the As. Wendle is just a name to make it look like a trade to Oakland fans.

to make room for Moss on the roster the Indians have designated Bryan Price, pitcher who was really awful in a few relief innings in September.

Well! I hope Moss isn't our "big" acquisition this year. I was disappointed with our stance of standing pat. I remember standing pat after the 2005 season and we paid for it. We went from 93 wins to 78 wins over night.

What big acquisition were you waiting for ?