Rays Deal SP Matt Moore to Giants

(photo credit: AP)

The San Francisco Giants made a deal at the buzzer on Monday afternoon, as they've acquired former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Moore. San Francisco has been looking for a left-handed arm, and Moore was one of the best on the market. The Rays will be getting Matt Duffy, Michael Santos, and Lucius Fox in exchange for Moore. Moore will be the second left-handed arm in the Giants rotation, joining ace Madison Bumgarner.

Moore is expected to slide in as the third pitcher in the rotation, behind Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto. Moore, 27, has posted a 4.08 ERA, and a 1.27 WHIP, with 109 strikeouts in 130 innings pitched. Other than Bumgarner, Moore is the only Giants starter that is under the age of 30. The Giants have had a strong rotation with Bumgarner, Cueto, and Jeff Sarmardzija, but the other two starters have been inconsistent this year.

Jake Peavy and Matt Cain have not been reliable options, so swapping Moore for either of those pitchers will instantly improve the Giants rotation. Moore is arbitration eligible next season, despite signing a 5-year deal worth $14 million with the Rays in December of 2011. Moore is two seasons removed from Tommy John surgery, but he's seemed to have no restrictions this year.

Moore has started 21 games this year, compiling a record of 7-7. Duffy was on the Giants major league roster this year, and he's been limited by an achillies injury. Duffy is batting .253, with four homers and 21 RBI's. Santos is 4-2 this year, with a 2.91 ERA, and a 1.13 WHIP in 58.2 innings pitched at Class-A Augusta. Fox is batting .207 with two homers and 16 RBI's in Class-A.

Red Sox Acquire Abad From Twins

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The Boston Red Sox have bolstered their bullpen by adding left-hander Fernando Abad from the Minnesota Twins. In exchange, the Twins will receive Pat Light, a relief pitcher in Triple AAA.

Abad has appeared in 39 games for the Twins this season. In 34 innings he has a 2.65 ERA and 1.206 WHIP with 29 strikeouts. The 30-year old Dominican native debuted in 2010 with the Astros, and has seen time with the Nationals, Athletics, Twins, and now Red Sox,

Light was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2012 draft out of Monmouth University. The 6'5" 25-year old has struggled with the strike zone this season for AAA Pawtucket, totaling 17 walks in 31 innings. At other times he has show he can be overpowering, with 36 strikeouts.

Brewers and Giants Swap RP Smith For Prospects

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The Milwaukee Brewers sent relief pitcher Will Smith to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for two minor league prospects: catcher Andrew Susac and pitcher Phil Bickford.

Smith missed the start of the season due to a knee injury, but was stellar through July 23. In that stretch, he had a 1.93 ERA while allowing opponents to hit just .188 against him. In those 18 2/3 innings, he gave up just 4 earned runs. In the 3 1/3 innings since, he has allowed six hits, three walks, and five earned runs. His overall production is still valued highly enough to be a valuable commodity, especially as a lefty out of the bullpen.

Bickford has performed well in the lower minor leagues this season, compiling a 2.71 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 93 innings in Class A and A-Advanced. Susac has spent time back and forth in the Majors and Triple AAA, but didn't have much of an opportunity on the Giants with Buster Posey in front of him, and unless the Brewers manage to unload Jonathon Lucroy today, Susac will have a similar situation in Milwaukee.

Yankees Trade Carlos Beltran to Rangers

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The Texas Rangers have acquired Carlos Beltran in a trade with the New York Yankees. Texas will send prospect Dillon Tate to the Bronx. Beltran led the Yankees in doubles, home runs and RBIs, as well as slugging percentage. 

Beltran's contract is to expire at the end of the season. Tate has struggled this season, recording a 5.12 ERA.  

Marlins to Send Colin Rea Back to Padres

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The Miami Marlins are reportedly sending pitcher Colin Rea back to the San Diego Padres. Miami got Rea as part of a seven-player trade. He left his first start with the Marlins in the fourth inning with elbow problems. He was placed on the DL short after. 

The Marlins are reportedly "livid", or very upset, and claim they got "damaged goods" from the Padres. In return to sending Rea back to San Diego, the Marlins will retain pitcher Andrew Cashner and Luis Castillo.

Dodgers Acquire Rich Hill and Josh Reddick From A's

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The Los Angeles Dodgers will send minor league pitching prospects Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for starting pitcher Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick, sources report on Monday.

In Hill the Dodgers receive a veteran starter to add to a rotation that has struggled with injuries recently. Reddick's presence in the outfield makes Yasiel Puig expendable for the Dodgers, which they have been aiming to do as the trade deadline approached.

Hill is currently on the disabled list with a blistered finger. The 36-year old right-hander is 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 14 starts for Oakland this season. Reddick is hitting .296 with an OPS of .818 in his 68 games with Oakland this year. He missed the end of May and most of June with a fractured thumb. His production has dipped a little in his return (he was hitting .322 before the injury)

Holmes is ranked as the 72nd best prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America. He made 18 starts in Class-A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. He compiled a record of 8-4, and he's posted an ERA of 4.02, and he also has a WHIP of 1.39.

The 20-year-old has struck out 100 batters in 105 1/3 innings. Cotton, 24, has made 22 appearances in Triple-A Oklahoma City this year. He is 8-5 with an ERA of 4.90, and he's recorded 119 strikeouts in 97 1/3 innings. Montas is ranked as the 95th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America. In 16 innings at Double-A and Triple-A, he has a 2.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts. He has missed a good portion of the season due to a rib injury.

Reds Trade Jay Bruce to Mets, Dilson Herrera Sent to Cincinnati

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The New York Mets have signed former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce. In return, the Reds will get prospect, Dilson Herrera and one other prospect, according to Yahoo! Sports.  

Bruce has hit 25 home runs, 22 doubles, six triples and 80 RBIs over the course of this season. The Mets could use Bruce, as they are 28th in the league in scoring. They are also 2 1/2 games out of the final NL Wild Card.