Oakland A’s acquire LHP Sam Moll from Rockies

The A’s acquired LHP Sam Moll from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash or a player to be named later.

Moll has spent his 2017 in AAA, pitching for the Albuquerque Isotopes. He’s posted a 4.18 ERA in 47.1 innings, inducing 39 strikeouts. He’s never been particularly impressive in his professional career, though his numbers have been decent. He was drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft, suggesting he’s shown solid stuff. It just hasn’t quite materialized to make him anything more than a fringe prospect.

Trades for left handed relievers usually scream LOOGY, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here. He’s been fine against lefties in his career, but not particularly effective meaning he probably doesn’t quite have the skillset for that niche role.

Interestingly, Moll will require a 40-man roster spot, meaning another move is imminent. Fortunately (lol), the A’s have a plethora of options for who gets the axe. Survivor, fringe MLB island should be riveting today.

There’s of course the option of a post deadline trade, a la Yonder Alonso. The roster spot could in theory come from the A’s moving a Rajai Davis or a Jed Lowrie, though the order of operations suggests that’s probably not the case.

To me, the most interesting part of this trade is the black box that is a front office. How did the A’s know one Sam Moll exists? What prompted them to trade for him at this juncture, and how did those conversations get started? Why would the Rockies give up a controllable player, even if his projectability is extremely limited, give him up if another team showed any interest at all? Wouldn’t that be a signal that maybe we’re missing something, might as well keep him for almost no cost?

Anyway, another move coming soon. Stay tuned!