*Photo from the San Diego Union Tribune*
The Oakland Athletics were tired of being hit hard by 1B Mitch Moreland. So they decided to sign him to prevent that happening this year. The Athletics and Moreland have agreed on a one year, $2.25 million, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Moreland adds a lefty bat to a righty heavy lineup. Oakland has confirmed the contract.
Moreland had a rather productive 2020 season, posting a .265 average with a .894 OPS, hitting 10 homers and driving in 29 runs in 42 games, split between the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. In his 11 year major league career, Moreland has a .252 average with a .767 OPS, hitting 176 homers and driving in 588 runs in 1,179 games, also playing a chunk of his career with the Texas Rangers, in addition to Boston and San Diego.
A's manager Bob Melvin said of the Moreland signing that "We just keep adding good players. He's just absolutely worn us out. I’m tired of watching him hit balls off that back wall in Oakland out in center field. We’re glad to have him. Another quality bat and a veteran guy that makes us a better team."
Moreland will likely get most of his playing time at DH, as Matt Olson is firmly entrenched as the first baseman, but Oakland signed him anyway, because Moreland still offers plenty of upside hitting wise, and is a 2016 AL Gold Glove winner at first base, so if Olson has to miss any chunk of time, Moreland can serve as a steady and reliable fill in.
Moreland talked about his role change to DH, saying that "It's definitely going to be different, so I'm kind of looking forward to camp to figure out how to transition into that a little bit better. Get a game plan together for that job. I can't answer it yet. Maybe in a few weeks I can have a better answer. But that's definitely what I'm looking forward to in camp, figure out how I'm going to do it during the season a little bit better."
Moreland joins an A's team that has made most of their free agent signings in the month of February, with Moreland, Yusmeiro Petit, Sergio Romo, and Trevor Rosenthal all being signed in the last few weeks.
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