MLB trade rumors: Brandon Moss back to A’s

The Kansas City Royals have traded Brandon Moss to the Oakland Athletics.

In MLB hot stove news, the Oakland Athletics have acquired veteran first baseman and designated hitter Brandon Moss from the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals also sent pitcher Ryan Butcher to the A’s along with cash considerations. On the return, Kansas City will be receiving starting pitcher Jesse Hahn and right-handed pitching prospect Heath Fillmyer. Hahn, 28, spent three of his four seasons in the MLB with the A’s. For his career, he’s 18-20 with a 4.19 ERA in 286 innings pitched.

According to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star, Royals GM Dayton Moore has said that Jesse Hahn will compete for a spot in the team’s rotation.

Heath Fillmyer, 23, was drafted by the A’s in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB amateur draft. Last season he went 11-5, pitching to the tune of a 3.49 ERA over 149 2/3 innings pitched for the AA Midland RockHounds.

For the Royals, this move would appear to be a salary dump. Moss was due to make $8.25 million next season, though the Royals sent $3.25 million to A’s to complete the deal.

Moss has been a wanderer for most of his career. He’s played for seven teams over the course of his 11-year career. This will be a reunion for the 34-year-old slugger, as he had previously been with Oakland from 2012 to 2014. With the Royals last season, he slashed a palty .207/.279/.428 in 401 plate appearances.

The Royals reportedly still have interest in re-signing free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer. With most of Moss’s salary now gone, they’ll have more money to try and bring Hosmer back.

Next: Brewers and Indians could be interesting trade partners

FanGraphs projects the Athletics to win just  75 games and has them finishing last in the AL West. The Royals project to place fourth in the AL Central, finishing just barely below .500.