Rockies acquire former Ranger Guillermo Moscoso

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 16, 2012 12:43 PM CST

Per the official Oakland A's Twitter feed, the Colorado Rockies have traded outfielder Seth Smith to the Oakland A's for pitchers Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso.

Smith was a 2nd rounder of the Rockies in the 2004 draft, is 29 years old, hits lefthanded, and is one of those tweener outfielders who is good defensively in the corner spots, not quite good enough to play center. He's got some power, walks some, doesn't hit for a ton of average...basically, he's your typical Oakland A's outfielder.

Outman came over with Adrian Cardenas and Matt Spencer from Philadelphia in the Joe Blanton trade,* and is a middling, generic lefty who probably wouldn't kill you as the #5 starter, and who will probably stick around in the league for a decade without anyone really remembering him or knowing who he ever played for.

* Given that Cardenas' star is pretty well faded, the Blanton trade is a pretty solid "loss" for Billy Beane, I think.

Moscoso is, of course, the guy who caught my eye. He was traded (along with Carlos Melo) to the Rangers from Detroit for Gerald Laird, and had some impressive minor league performances for the Rangers, but couldn't stick in a bullpen role. He actually had a pretty decent season for the A's last year, with a 3.38 ERA and a 4.23 FIP in 128 innings (primarily as a starter), but he seems to be one of the deck chairs that is being re-arranged in the wacky, wacky Oakland offseason.

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doesn't make too much sense for Oakland

Smith is just entering first year of arb so he won’t be cheap or have alot of control. By the time the A’s are close to competing he will be a FA. Beane will likely flip him anyhow.

by RangerMad on Jan 16, 2012 12:48 PM CST reply actions

You're also forgetting

that there’s been a fire sale in Oakland this offseason.

Bailey, Gio, Cahill…

I live to play the devil's advocate.

by AfterSchoolSpecial on Jan 16, 2012 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

yeah

So why trade for Smith and not some prospects? But it is Billy Beane we are talkin’ about.

by RangerMad on Jan 16, 2012 1:05 PM CST up reply actions

Didn't realize that when posting. Oops.

I guess it could depend on what his contract looks like. He could be a one-and-done if he has 1 year left. If it’s more, you’re correct in your post that Beane is likely to flip him.

I live to play the devil's advocate.

by AfterSchoolSpecial on Jan 16, 2012 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

They still need to field an actual team this year and need outfielders

Smith will help fill out the roster and will likely at the very least retain his value.

I think it was a pretty good trade for them. They picked Moscoso off the scrap heap last year and got a decent outfielder for him. Who even knows if Moscoso will be able to repeat his last season?

by MikeEl on Jan 16, 2012 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

with his FB rate?

could be ugly at Coors

by RangerMad on Jan 16, 2012 1:49 PM CST up reply actions

beane

Just seems to be treading water these days.

Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin

by t ball on Jan 16, 2012 1:13 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions

Maybe Moscoso puts up Cahill-lite numbers in Oakland

Then is flipped for more during a pennant race?

But really, why am I trying to rationalize what Beane is doing lately???

We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
Hell to the fucking no. -Wash, 10/07/11

by Rodney on Jan 16, 2012 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

Except he just flipped him for an outfielder

Expectation is the root of all heartache. — William Shakespeare

by TheDutchOven on Jan 16, 2012 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

Oops

lol

We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
Hell to the fucking no. -Wash, 10/07/11

by Rodney on Jan 16, 2012 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

It is really wishful thinking that Moscoso would continue to put up good numbers

RotoGraphs also just put up an article making it very clear why investing in Moscoso is not a good idea…

by MikeEl on Jan 16, 2012 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

If Beane can flip Moscoso

after already having traded him to CO, he is a true genius.

Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin

by t ball on Jan 16, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

Bleah, shush

We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
Hell to the fucking no. -Wash, 10/07/11

by Rodney on Jan 16, 2012 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

"Treading water" is the phrase that popped into my mind as well

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 16, 2012 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

"Treading water to San Jose..."

Sounds like a folk song

by MikeEl on Jan 16, 2012 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

The Mamas and Papas

"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11

by Atticus F on Jan 16, 2012 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

at some point

it stops being fun to make fun of him. I’d really hate to be an A’s fan…

Go Rice Owls!
Would be a Matt Harrison fan, but I only like superstars

by JBImaknee on Jan 16, 2012 2:22 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

and I don't really see the point for Colorado, either

neither of those arms seems likely to thrive there.

Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin

by t ball on Jan 16, 2012 5:44 PM CST up reply actions

would hate to be the guy

in charge of their marketing/pr/advertising dept.

seriously, how do you sell the A’s?

by oc on Jan 16, 2012 9:04 PM CST up reply actions

Buttholo Colon to A's

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7464755/source-bartolo-colon-agrees-one-year-deal-oakland-as

"the PGT isn’t about alerting drunk guys on their mobile as to what the score was." --goET 7-24-11

by Atticus F on Jan 16, 2012 2:19 PM CST reply actions

Baltimore and KC

Are probably wondering why they were not in on this.

by Akalhar on Jan 16, 2012 3:51 PM CST via Android app reply actions

Blanton trade

Considering the Phillies paid Blanton about $21 million for 4.4 of WAR the past three seasons, I’m not sure any trade of him could be considered a solid loss.

Maybe Beane could have made a better deal for him, but I wouldn’t even call non-tendering him a loss given his production the last three years compared to his cost (and what he’s due in 2012).

by Darrell McKown on Jan 16, 2012 6:27 PM CST reply actions