A's, Moreland complete 1-year deal
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The A¡¯s have found the left-handed bat they were in search of this offseason.
The club announced on Tuesday that it has completed a one-year deal with first baseman/designated hitter Mitch Moreland. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A¡¯s designated right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn for assignment.
The left-handed-hitting Moreland brings some balance to an A¡¯s offense that has been right-handed-heavy over the past two years. Though Moreland is a former Gold Glove Award winner at first base, the team already boasts a two-time Gold Glove first baseman in Matt Olson. The majority of Moreland¡¯s playing time with the A¡¯s is likely to come at the DH spot, where playing time was freed up after the departure of slugger Khris Davis in a five-player deal that netted Oakland Elvis Andrus earlier this month.
The A¡¯s have first-hand knowledge of the dangerous bat Moreland possesses. In 95 career games against Oakland, Moreland is a .271 hitter with 22 home runs, 59 RBIs and an .859 OPS. The 22 homers are his most against a single club.
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Moreland split time with the Red Sox and Padres last year, combining to slash .265/.342/.551 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 42 games. Power is the 35-year-old¡¯s biggest asset, as he¡¯s hit 176 homers in 11 seasons and has reached at least 19 in a year five times in his career.
Heavily utilized in a platoon role over the past few years, Moreland could see that continue with the A¡¯s in a combo with Mark Canha, who split time mostly at DH and in left field last season.
The A¡¯s also reportedly agreed to one-year deals with relievers Yusmeiro Petit and Sergio Romo on Sunday and agreed to a one-year deal worth a reported $11 million with veteran reliever Trevor Rosenthal on Thursday.