Just after they signed him to a one-year, $2.4M contract to avoid arbitration, the Colorado Rockies have traded outfielder Seth Smith to the Oakland Athletics according to Colorado's team Twitter account. The Rockies in return acquire pitchers Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso.
Smith has been a trade target for a couple of seasons now, and it seemed inevitable that the Rockies would trade him in this offseason. The moving of Outman and Moscoso for the Athletics clears a 40-man roster spot as well, making room for the newly-signed starting pitcher Bartolo Colon.
With the signing of Michael Cuddyer earlier this off season, the Rockies did not have room for Smith and as I said above, it was nearly a given that he would be traded. The Oakland outfield currently includes Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick, although names like Michael Taylor, Brandon Allen and Chris Carter are expected to be in the mix, as well. Reddick was acquired by the A's for Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox and he is expected to be the starting right fielder.