Cleveland Guardians

Did the Indians get a steal in the Brandon Moss trade?

Published Jul. 30, 2015 11:38 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Cleveland Indians traded outfielder Brandon Moss to the St. Louis Cardinals for LHP Rob Kaminsky Thursday. Kaminsky was the Cardinals 2013 first round pick.

It's the second year in a row where the Indians traded a player for the a former Cardinals first round pick. Last season, the Indians traded Justin Masterson to the Cardinals in exchange for outfielder James Ramsey.

In December, the Indians acquired Moss from the Athletics for infield prospect Joey Wendle. On the season, Moss was struggling at the plate, hitting .217 with a .288 OBP and .407 SLG. In 337 at-bats, Moss had 73 hits, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 15 home runs and 50 RBI.

For Moss, the Indians acquired the No. 3 prospect in the Cardinals system, according to MLB Pipeline, a left-hander pitcher who's also the No. 88 prospect in all of baseball and the No. 10 left-handed pitching prospect in baseball, as well.

Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline called the trade an absolute robbery by the Indians. Kaminsky becomes the Indians' No. 3 prospect behind Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier and the third Indians prospect in the MLB.com Top 100 prospects.

This Kaminsky-for-Moss trade is a flat-out heist for the @Indians. Wow. @Cardinals
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 30, 2015

Per MLB Pipeline, Kaminsky has a one of the best curveballs in the minors, and has a good chance to become a major league starting pitcher. The Indians may have gotten a steal.