McAdam: Red Sox ship Mitch Moreland to Padres for two prospects as tear-down continues

The dismantling of the roster which helped win the 2018 World Series continued Sunday morning. It is likely not yet complete.

The Red Sox traded first baseman Mitch Moreland to the San Diego Padres in exchange for two prospects -- infielder Hudson Potts and outfielder Jeisson Rosario.

It was the second significant deal of the trading season by new chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, with the likelihood of more to come before Monday's 4 p.m. trade deadline.

Moreland was enjoying a fine season with the Red Sox, slashing .328/.430/.746 with eight homers and 21 RBI. But as a veteran on the final year of a guaranteed deal (he has a $3 million option for 2021), he was a prime candidate to be moved in exchange for future pieces for the Red Sox rebuild.

Potts, 21, is an infielder who has played second and short but is mostly viewed as a third baseman. Rosario, 20, is an athletic outfielder who profiles as both a center fielder and leadoff hitter. They'll be added to the Red Sox player pool in the coming days at the alternate training site once they go through the team's intake program.

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While some might have preferred the Red Sox to target pitching in return, Bloom said the Red Sox are focused on accumulating as many quality prospect as possible when trading off veteran players.

"You'd love to accumulate as much pitching as possible,'' said Bloom, "but at the end of the day, to do what we're trying to do, in the time period we're trying to do it, we just need talent. We need talent throughout the system. We need waves of it and that has to be our first priority when we're looking at trade returns in this context.

"Both of these guys have a chance to be really exciting players -- very high upside for both of them. (They're both) pretty accomplished minor league players, playing at levels where they were very young last year.''

Potts is a former first-round draft pick (2016) for the Padres who has moved around the infield - drafted as a shortstop, placed at second base last year before being moved to third.

One rival talent evaluator labeled him as a "big strong third baseman with a raw power bat.''

Said Bloom: "A big physical kid with a lot of power and a good arm, really good tools. He has a chance, particularly as he continues to develop his approach, that he can be a real asset with the bat and also be able to play multiple positions.''

Rosario was an in-demand international prospect out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, signed by the Padres for $1.85 million. He's adept at reaching base (.368 on-base percentage or better in three pro years) and is a skilled defender in center field.

One scout said he "five-tool upside with strong tools.''

"(He's) a top-flight athlete who profiles as a true center fielder and true leadoff hitter,'' Bloom said. "Plus-plus runner, really good athlete, very good ability in the outfield. He has a very advanced feel for the strike zone at a young age. We're excited to see how he develops as he grows and adds strength but he has the upside to play center every day and hit at the top of the lineup.''

Trading Moreland -- a clubhouse leader and reliable run producer in the lineup -- was not easy.

"Hard on all ends, (given) what he does on the field, what he does off the field,'' said Ron Roenicke. "We celebrated yesterday his 10 years of service time. As a team, we celebrated that, so it's a little strange to call him in this morning and give him the news. He obviously meant a huge amount to what he's done for us as an organization- certainly two years ago with the World Series but also what he means to all the guys.

"It's something that when you try to move forward with things, you need to make some deals at times; hard deals at times.''

Moreland spent 3 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox and was particularly effective against righthanded pitching while supplying above-average defense at first base. He was also a strong presence in the clubhouse, helping to mentor young players, notably Rafael Devers, as they came to the big leagues.

Roenicke saluted Moreland's professionalism and willingness to play hurt.

"He's always willing to go out and play,'' said Roenicke. "He produces when he's out there. Offensively, he creates runs. And he's big -- he comes up with big-moment hits. In the clubhouse, (he was) definitely one of the leaders but also somebody that guys that go and talk to and ask questions and he can direct the group in a way that is beneficial, which as a manager, it's huge to have player like that.

"I can't say enough about Mitch. I'll miss him for sure. The guys loved him, the coaching staff and myself loved him. So he'll be missed.''

The departure of Moreland will make playing time available for Bobby Dalbec, who made his major league debut Sunday at first base.

"I think it's really important to see what the future can look like,'' said Roenicke. "Bobby's a guy who's been on our radar a long time as one of our top prospects and knowing the upside of we think this guy can become. So I think it's important to see him, to see what he can do and for him also to get comfortable in the big leagues and the future -- where we go next year and the years after.''

Dalbec has plus-power potential, but has to be become more selective at the plate and make more consistent contact.