Brandon Moss to Benefit in Cleveland
Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Brandon Moss (37) hits a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning of the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
In a myriad of recent baffling moves by the Oakland A’s, Billy Beane sent power hitting Brandon Moss to the Cleveland Indians for a Minor Leaguer. In the past three years, Brandon Moss hit 76 homers, posted a .249 ISO, and an .844 OPS. He is an arbitration-eligible player, so the A’s may once again be in extreme cost-cutting mode, which is a shame because I love watching them play in the first half of 2014.
During the first half of 2014, Brandon Moss was a dynamite hitter by driving in 66 RBI’s and hitting a whopping 21 bombs in the 89 games he played in before the All-Star Break. His .268/.349/.530 slash line, .379 wOBA, and 148 wRC+ demonstrated pure excellence at the plate, but his season was derailed with a hip injury.
The bad hip bothered Brandon Moss so much as the season wore on that he was forced to get surgery right in early October. His on-field performance also suffered big time as he hit a dismal .173 with only four home runs after the All-Star Break. The hip injury prevented Moss from having a truly breakout fantasy campaign.
Plus, Progressive Field in Cleveland is marginally better for hitters than the O.co Coliseum and the AL Central parks are a little more conducive to hitting than the AL West. As a left-handed batter, Brandon Moss should really benefit from the fact that it is easier for a lefty to pull a home run in Cleveland than it is in Oakland.
If the hip surgery took care of his injury, then Brandon Moss could be primed for a big fantasy campaign in 2014. He will be 31 years old and offers some of the best power in the game. Moving away from Oakland’s pitcher friendly field does not hurt either. Moss has been a very good offensive player the past three seasons and that trend should certainly continue.
The terrible second half of 2014 because of the injury issue could make Moss one of the ultimate bargains in 2015. If he ties his career high of 30 home runs in the upcoming season, then Brandon Moss would place himself in nearly elite power territory. Only a mere 11 ballplayers hit at least 30+ homers in 2014.
The declining power numbers in the game could make players like Brandon Moss slightly more valuable because sluggers are becoming a scarcer commodity with every passing season.