Mitch Moreland was always part of the solution. It's a reality the Oakland A's have gotten a chance to realize this season.
Moreland makes his return to Fenway Park Tuesday night when his first-place A's take on the Red Sox in a three-game series.
Moreland, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with Oakland this past offseason, has primarily manned the DH spot for the A's, playing just five games at first base. He comes into the series hitting .218 with a .697 OPS and four homers.
Twenty of Moreland's 27 appearances have come in Oakland, with all four homers being hit at the Coliseum. For his career, the lefty hitter has 19 home runs at the home of the A's, carrying an .853 OPS.
Still, Fenway Park has always been Moreland's safe haven with the veteran managing a career .860 OPS at his former home park.
While the overall numbers haven't been what Moreland most likely was looking for, he has come through when it has counted, managing a .353 batting average and .988 OPS with runners in scoring position.
The Red Sox did show interest in bringing Moreland back into the fold, but opted for the more versatile Marwin Gonzalez.
One of the prospects coming back from San Diego in the trade deadline deal for Moreland last year, Jeisson Rosario, has gotten off to a solid start with Double-A Portland. The outfielder has six hits in his first 16 at-bats (.375).