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The Texas Rangers aren't the only team to ask about the availability of 27-year-old Washington Nationals' slugger Tyler Moore. Back in 2012, after a rookie campaign in the majors in which the '08 16th Round pick out of Mississipi State University posted an impressive .263/.327/.513 line with nine doubles and 10 HRs in 75 games and 171 plate appearances over which he was worth +0.6 fWAR for the NL East Division champions, now-retired Nats' skipper Davey Johnson said former Nationals' coach Bo Porter called to ask about Moore:
Davey Johnson said #Astros' Bo Porter called to ask if the #Nats would trade Tyler Moore to HOU. "Forget it, no chance." @mlbnetworkradio
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) November 14, 2012
Moore was up and down between Triple-A Syracuse and the nation's capital in 2013, struggling in the bench role he filled the previous year and finishing the his second major league campaign at -1.2 fWAR with a .222/.260/.347 line, nine doubles and four home runs in 63 games and 178 PAs. Still, teams showed interest since Moore was stuck in a backup role behind Adam LaRoche and out of the mix, for the most part, in the outfield.
#Pirates aren't only team looking for 1B. #Astros calling around on group that includes Mike Carp, Mayberry, Tyler Moore. All unlikely fits
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 18, 2014
Through 30 games this season, Moore has a .203/.282/.359 line with a double and three home runs in 71 plate appearances. Moore filled in for Adam LaRoche recently while the 34-year-old first baseman was on the DL.
He managed to avoid getting optioned out upon LaRoche's return, with Nats' skipper Matt Williams telling reporters that Moore's ability to play left field added value.
Against left-hander Francisco Liriano on Sunday afternoon, Moore was out in left field, going 1 for 3 with a walk in Washington's 5-2 win.
While the Nationals were in the process of beating the Pirates in Pittsburgh, MLB.com's Bill Ladson was reporting that a "baseball source" informed him that the Texas Rangers, "... inquired about Nationals first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore."
Nationals 5-2 over Pirates: Strong start for Doug Fister in PNC Park
Photo © Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
Ladson added that, "... the source indicated that nothing is serious and the Rangers have a long list of first basemen they have interest in," as they look for ways to make up for the loss of Prince Fielder to a herniated disc in his neck.
With Moore filling in at first when needed and likely to get at bats while playing left against left-handers, and with all the injuries the Nationals have dealt with in the first two months of the season, would it make sense to deal someone like Moore?