The Cincinnati Reds made their first move ahead of the Trade Deadline by acquiring left-handed reliever Sam Moll from the Oakland A’s. In exchange, the Reds sent Minor League pitcher Joe Boyle to the A’s along with international bonus pool money.
Moll, 31, has a 4.54 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 44 relief appearances and one start for Oakland this season. Over his career, which spans from 2017 and 2021-2023, Moll has a 4.13 ERA in 117 games. He has been particularly effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .197 batting average this season compared to .276 for right-handed hitters.
Reds general manager Nick Krall praised Moll’s abilities, saying he is a nice addition to the bullpen. With a good fastball and breaking ball, Moll has the potential to be a strikeout pitcher, especially in Cincinnati’s home ballpark.
The Reds, who currently lead the National League Central by 1.5 games over the Milwaukee Brewers, have been actively searching for rotation and bullpen help. While their rotation has struggled with a 5.18 ERA and 22nd-ranked innings pitched, the bullpen has been heavily relied upon to pick up the slack. In fact, Cincinnati’s bullpen ranks third in the National League in innings pitched.
Adding relievers has been a top priority for the Reds, according to Krall. They wanted fresh arms, track record, and options to provide more depth and give manager David Bell more choices for late-game situations.
Left-handed pitcher Alex Young, who is already in the Reds’ bullpen, expressed his excitement about Moll joining the team. Young mentioned that he had played with Moll a few years ago on the Arizona Diamondbacks and praised his talent and character.
While the Reds have addressed their bullpen needs with Moll, they are still actively searching for starting pitchers. However, Krall noted that the market has been difficult, and they haven’t found a suitable match yet. The team’s goal is to build sustainable success, and they are looking for long-term solutions rather than sacrificing player assets for short-term gains.
In the trade, the Reds sent Boyle, their No. 28 prospect, to the A’s. Boyle had been pitching for Double-A Chattanooga this season, posting a 6-5 record with a 4.50 ERA and 1.