St. Louis Cardinals: A First Base Battle

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Aug 28, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brandon Moss (21) walks off the field after hitting into a double play in the ninth inning to retire the side during their MLB baseball game with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Giants won 5-4
Aug 28, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brandon Moss (21) walks off the field after hitting into a double play in the ninth inning to retire the side during their MLB baseball game with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Giants won 5-4 /

Brandon Moss — ZiPS Projection: .237/.319/.444

ZiPS doesn’t like Moss’ contact skills as much as Adams’, and it doesn’t seem to think that he’s the better overall hitter. If Moss were right handed, a platoon would make a lot of sense. Since we have two lefties instead, the St. Louis Cardinals have a problem.

As recently as 2014, Brandon Moss was a perfectly cromulent hitter. From 2012-2014, he averaged 25 home runs with a .254/.340/.504 line. If he did that in 2016, he would make a fine starting first baseman and I would be happy to have him.

Unfortunately for all of us, he’s had one hip surgery and a pretty terrible season since the end of 2014. The real question with Moss is do you trust that his hip is healed and that he can produce that way again? I’m less than convinced. If he’s ready to roll and shows up in spring with the patience and power that first earned him a spot on a Major League roster, then he will be the answer to the Cardinals’ problem. If not, then we have to look elsewhere.