Taiwan’s EDA Rhinos Sign Daniel Moskos

Daniel Moskos began the year with the White Sox Triple-A affiliate but will now head to Taiwan to join the EDA Rhinos. (Image Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports)

Daniel Moskos hasn’t exactly had the successful MLB career that he’d set out to enjoy when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him as the 4th overall pick in the 2007 Draft. Now it would seem the left-hander will head overseas, signing a deal to join the EDA Rhinos in Taiwan according to MLBDailyDish’s Chris Cotillo.

When the Pirates selected Moskos out of Clemson University in ‘07, the resounding belief was that he could potentially be a difference maker in the Bucs starting rotation in time. Moskos would struggle as a starter in the minor leagues, going 18-17 with a 4.69 ERA over his first two full seasons. Pittsburgh elected to move him to the bullpen at the start of the 2010 season but he once again posted inconsistent results. Moskos dominated Double-A out of the bullpen in 2010, racking up 21 saves with a career-best 9.4 K/9, but would be hit hard with a promotion to Triple-A later that year.

He’d earn a callup to Pittsburgh the following year and saw some decent success working out of the Pirates’ bullpen. He’d make 31 appearances, posting a 2.96 ERA and 1.562 WHIP over 24.1 IP. His peripherals left something to be desired – 4.1 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 – and he’d bounce back and forth between the Majors and Triple-A for much of the year.

Back in the minor leagues the following season, it had started to become evident that Moskos wasn’t going to be the valuable piece that the Pirates once believed. By July the team placed him on waivers to clear space on their 40-man roster and he was claimed by the Chicago White Sox. Over the next two-plus seasons he’d post replacement level results and the White Sox eventually would simply release him in early June of this year.

The Rhinos will presumably use Moskos out of their bullpen, as he hasn’t started a game since the 2009 season. This is the same team that had signed Manny Ramirez this past Spring, so they are familiar with bringing in international players who are looking to prove themselves once again. Moskos is still just 27 years of age so there’s still a chance that he’s able to regain his old form and earn his way back into a Major League organization again.