The Reds Acquire Sam Moll from the A’s in Trade
The Trade
Reds get: Sam Moll, LHP
A’s get: Joe Boyle, RHP and international bonus pool money
Last week, our Ken Rosenthal flagged the Oakland A’s Sam Moll as a trade target. Turns out Ken knows what he’s talking about. The A’s have 30 — 30! — wins as the trade deadline approaches. That’s a .280 winning percentage for those scoring at home. With a big league roster this deficient, flipping anyone on it for anything of potential value moving forward constitutes a nice little win.
Moll, 31, has a 4.54 ERA over 37 2/3 innings spread over 45 appearances. The 5-foot-9 southpaw is walking 4.5 batters per nine innings, right in line with his career marks. And he’s a typical lefty, in that he smothers lefty hitters (.557 OPS against), though righty hitters not so much (.780). But this season, his strikeout rate has climbed to 11.0 per nine. His slider is his bread-and-butter pitch. He’s also cheap with four more years of club control. That adds up to the closest thing to victory in Oakland this summer: a plane ticket out of Oakland.
The hard-charging Reds get themselves some bullpen depth, and all it cost them was a lottery ticket in 2020 fifth-round pick Joe Boyle and international bonus pool money, which can be used to procure more lottery tickets. Boyle is the 28th-ranked prospect in the Reds system according to MLB Pipeline. The soon-to-be 24-year-old stands 6-7, weighs 240 pounds, and you guessed it, owns an 80-grade fastball. What he does not own is 80-grade command. At Double-A Chattanooga this season he’s walking 8.0 batters per nine innings. One would think a move to the bullpen is next. Maybe if he learns some control, he’ll someday get his very own cheesy closer entrance in Las Vegas.
Our Eno Sarris likes this deal for the A’s.
Reds: B-
A’s: A-
(Photo of Moll: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)
Analysis of the Trade
The Cincinnati Reds have made a move to bolster their bullpen by acquiring left-handed pitcher Sam Moll from the Oakland A’s. In exchange, the A’s receive right-handed pitcher Joe Boyle and international bonus pool money.
Moll, a 31-year-old southpaw, has a 4.54 ERA over 37 2/3 innings in 45 appearances this season. While his walk rate is consistent with his career numbers at 4.5 batters per nine innings, he has seen an increase in his strikeout rate to 11.0 per nine innings. Moll has been particularly effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .557 OPS. However, right-handed hitters have had more success against him with a .780 OPS.
One of Moll’s key pitches is his slider, which has been his go-to weapon against hitters. With four more years of club control, Moll provides the Reds with a cost-effective option for their bullpen.
On the other side of the trade, the A’s receive Joe Boyle, a 2020 fifth-round pick and the 28th-ranked prospect in the Reds’ system. Boyle, a towering 6-foot-7 right-hander weighing 240 pounds, possesses an impressive 80-grade fastball. However, his command has been an issue, as he is currently walking 8.0 batters per nine innings at Double-A Chattanooga. It is likely that the A’s will consider moving Boyle to the bullpen to harness his potential and improve his control.
Overall, this trade provides both teams with what they were looking for. The Reds add bullpen depth in Moll, while the A’s acquire a promising young arm in Boyle and international bonus pool money to further strengthen their farm system.
Conclusion
The trade between the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland A’s sees the Reds acquire left-handed pitcher Sam Moll to bolster their bullpen. In return, the A’s receive right-handed pitcher Joe Boyle and international bonus pool money. This trade benefits both teams, with the Reds gaining bullpen depth and the A’s adding a promising young arm to their system. It will be interesting to see how these players develop and contribute to their respective teams in the future.