Prospect Brandon Moss -- hitting .282 for Triple A Pawtucket with eight home runs in 163 at-bats -- is looking forward to playing with the Pirates after being traded as part of the blockbuster, six-player Manny Ramirez-Jason Bay deal.
"It's great news,'' Moss, 24, told The Providence Journal after learning he would go to Pittsburgh. "Obviously, I love this (Red Sox) organization. It's the only one I've known. I've basically grown up in it. I've been here for six years, since I was 18 years old. But at the same time I see how it is up there. Maybe it's an opportunity to get a little more time than I would have here. I think it all worked out.''
The Red Sox -- in the past known for suppressing opportunities for younger players -- has been advancing its prospects since Theo Epstein took over as general manager. But as an established team, opportunities for newcomers are generally fewer than with the constantly rebuilding Pirates.
Moss projects as a valuable prospect not only because of defensive skills but his pedigree at lower minor league levels, having hit .339 and .422 with 15 homers in two Single A stops four years ago for a batting title.
In addition to Moss, the deal included Manny Ramirez being dealt to the Dodgers, Jason Bay to Boston and Andy LaRoche to the Pirates.
Moss was practicing at McCoy Stadium in Providence when manager Ron Johnson told him he had been traded just as the trading deadline.
"I had no clue," Moss told The Journal. "I honestly didn't think I was going to be traded. It was weird. It was five o'clock...I knew something was up once he was calling me in.''.
Showing posts with label Brandon Moss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brandon Moss. Show all posts
Friday, August 01, 2008
Poll: Dodgers Biggest Winner in Three-Way Trade
A poll of more than 21,000 CBSsportsline.com subscribers showed that as of midnight EST Thursday a decisive majority believed the Dodgers got best of the deal in the three-way trade involving Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, Pirates outfielder Jason Bay and Dodgers third baseman Andy La Roche.
The deal gives the Dodgers a big, mid-lineup slugger in Ramirez, 36, who becomes a free-agent at the end of the year with no options. Meanwhile Bay, 29, goes to the Red Sox and will remain under Boston's control until the end of next year.
The Pirates received from the Dodgers third baseman Andy LaRoche, 22, brother of first baseman Adam LaRoche, and pitching prospect Bryan Morris, 21. From the Red Sox the Pirates received prospects Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss, both 24.
Asked which of the three teams benefited the most, poll respondents said the Dodgers, 51 percent, the Red Sox, 26 percent and the Pirates 24 percent.
In addition to the personnel moves, the Red Sox also are paying $7 million of the $20 million still owed to Ramirez this year.
Though reaction has been mixed in Boston, many fans expressed gladness that Ramirez and his difficult personality had been purged, a reaction somewhat reminiscent of the reaction in Los Angeles when often overrated Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of his contract to go to the Red Sox.
The deal gives the Dodgers a big, mid-lineup slugger in Ramirez, 36, who becomes a free-agent at the end of the year with no options. Meanwhile Bay, 29, goes to the Red Sox and will remain under Boston's control until the end of next year.
The Pirates received from the Dodgers third baseman Andy LaRoche, 22, brother of first baseman Adam LaRoche, and pitching prospect Bryan Morris, 21. From the Red Sox the Pirates received prospects Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss, both 24.
Asked which of the three teams benefited the most, poll respondents said the Dodgers, 51 percent, the Red Sox, 26 percent and the Pirates 24 percent.
In addition to the personnel moves, the Red Sox also are paying $7 million of the $20 million still owed to Ramirez this year.
Though reaction has been mixed in Boston, many fans expressed gladness that Ramirez and his difficult personality had been purged, a reaction somewhat reminiscent of the reaction in Los Angeles when often overrated Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of his contract to go to the Red Sox.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.