Comments on: Nationals get Denard Span from Twins for pitching prospect Alex Meyer

By: pariseinminnesotabichez

pariseinminnesotabichez — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:08:17 +0000

Finally, this opens the door for Revere to actually command this outfield…. Go Twins!

By: dcfan4life

dcfan4life — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:59:46 +0000

They got pitching that while looking promising could be around a year away from the majors. This year will still be a struggle for the Twins. However this is great for the Nats to get a true leadoff man. Morse will move to first, so the Nats wont miss much with the departure of LaRoche which this trade may ensure. Starting lineup should be as follows,

Denard Span CF
Bryce Harper LF
Ryan Zimmerman 3B
Michael Morse 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Ian Desomd SS
Danny Espinosa 2B
Wilson Ramos C
Pitcher Spot

Pretty Formidable offensively and defensively to go with arguably the best pitching staff in the NL. The Nats are primed for a repeat division title and World Series Run.

By: dlambrecht

dlambrecht — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:49:45 +0000

They just got 4.75 million dollars more to use to pick up another pitcher. They cobbled together 5 guys last season, they’ll do it again. And they’re certainly not done getting pitching with the Meyer-Span trade, so I don’t see any reason for concern that they won’t have a starting rotation ready to go by February. (Nor, regrettably, do I see much reason to think that it’ll will be much better than a mediocre rotation unless, as I noted above, things fall together in a way that is almost inconceivable).

By: natslady

natslady — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:04:32 +0000

Werth, who is Davey’s “resident genius” (seriously!) and one of the smartest baserunners I’ve seen, will help Span on that. In his interview, Span sounded energized and excited (beyond the usual for a play who just got traded), and said he was “upping his game” to be an All-Star. He also said he “didn’t want to get in the way” of the great players around him. A nice mixture of confidence and humility.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:01:21 +0000

No, and no one pretends they’re contending. They’re 3-5 years away from contention, if everything breaks right. But even the worst team in baseball needs 5 bodies to take the mound every day. They can’t provide that between their major and minor league rosters.

By: dlambrecht

dlambrecht — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:38:04 +0000

I don’t think this is true. Yes, he’s a poor baserunner. What else doesn’t he do well (and remember, hitting for power isn’t IQ, so don’t try to count that)? He’s got exceptional plate discipline and he’s a much better than average CF (including + speed). No one was claiming that Span is a 5 tool HOF caliber player, but the claim “very low baseball IQ” is without merit whatsoever.

By: dlambrecht

dlambrecht — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:34:55 +0000

I would have loved a trade with the Reds, but I won’t complain about this. I think Atlanta was the Twins best option, frankly…

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:07:16 +0000

Define this so-called “Baseball IQ.”

By: dlambrecht

dlambrecht — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:07:09 +0000

Sorry, Span will be 29 next season. He’s not 30.

By: dlambrecht

dlambrecht — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:06:18 +0000

Sorry, Span is 28 (29 next season), not 30.

By: dlambrecht

dlambrecht — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:05:08 +0000

Span is 30 – so not young by any stretch of the imagination. He’s got a heck of an injury history, as well. And he’s a disaster on the basepaths, which diminishes his speed as a plus significantly.

Span’s a solid player and has good numbers leading off, but it’s not like he’s all upside by any stretch of the imagination.

By: dlambrecht

dlambrecht — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:01:09 +0000

This is exactly right. Without things falling together for several more pitchers in a way that almost inconceivable, the Twins were never going to contend in 2013. They need to stock the organization with arms, and this was a good start.

And people thinking the Twins should have received more in return should ask themselves honestly what a 30 year old CF with historic injury issues, baserunning problems, and no power is really worth in this market. I’m not slamming Span – he’s one of the better lead off hitters in the game today, and he’s still significantly better than average CF, but looking honestly at his weak spots and it becomes clear that the Twins were never going to get a MLB-ready #1 or #2 starter for him (which it seems people were expecting).

The Twins need to build for 2015. This trade is the way to start doing that. I hope they’re not done.

By: tmohr

tmohr — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:49:49 +0000

Span’s career home/road splits:

Humpdome: 314/398/451
Target: 311/379/422
Everywhere else: 260/330/349

Factor in Nats Park being neutral, and despite being cheap, he’d better be Tris Speaker in center field.

By: bambam4

bambam4 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:03:27 +0000

Span has a very low baseball IQ, especially on the bases. I do not see this as a loss for the Twins.

By: jonrox

jonrox — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:45:25 +0000

As a Reds fan, I’m really disappointed by this trade. Span is exactly what the Reds need, but we’re too focused on wasting all of our talent and money on the bullpen.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:28:51 +0000

Span is 28. He is no longer a prospect. This time, the Nats were the team trading the prospect.

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:26:02 +0000

Eh, I think this was Rizzo’s plan all along. He’s coveted Span for a couple of years and was able to get him at a reasonable price.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:18:26 +0000

I agree that Morse is not part of the Nats’ longer-term plans. Not only because he will start commanding much bigger bucks after 2013, but because he’s not exactly a kid. Oh, and BTW, the Nats have a promising young 1B in Tyler Moore, and a promising young 3B in Anthony Rendon (who could move Ryan Zimmerman to 1B). So Rizzo has several options at 1B. It’s one of those nice problems to have.

Still, it’s too bad if LaRoche prices himself out of the Nats’ plans. He seemed to fit perfectly with the team’s needs for a LH power bat, defensive support for the other infielders, and a good clubhouse presence. I would miss him.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:09:26 +0000

Perhaps, but Storen for Span was an unrealistic expectation last summer. Rizzo wasn’t going to make that deal.

Still, this could turn out well for the Twins. Meyer got good reviews for his work in the minors and AFL this year, and he will probably be more than a “borderline top 100 prospect for next season. And, as Aaron noted, he can be the kind of power arm the Twins need desparately.

By: crisisjunky

crisisjunky — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:53:49 +0000

Meyer is one of my favorite prospects, but bottom line, gotta trust the Riz.
This will now be one of the great outfields in the N.L., excepting of course, Heyward/Upton/Upton
Rizzo is like the Bruce Bochy of the offseason.

By: sisqsage

sisqsage — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:26:03 +0000

Another possible angle: Angel Pagan is asking way too much in FA and the Nats moved onto this deal.

By: schrutebeetfarms

schrutebeetfarms — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:12:59 +0000

They are years away from contending. A mid level pitcher does no good now.

By: dkphilly1122

dkphilly1122 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:59:38 +0000

Rumors I heard were they will sign Laroche and Morse will be traded because he is gonna be due a pay raise for serioussssssss money I believe after this year, so trade him now for some good young prospects. He is at the bottom of the list for raises under Strasburg, and Bryce who will obviously get a boatload of money over the next few years as they are arbitration eligible. Just what I read, but I am a Phillies fan so who knows how true it really is. Not a bad deal for the Nats though, they will need whatever help they can get once the Phillies pull the trigger within two weeks on a few moves…..if not sooner.

By: parasonic

parasonic — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:56:06 +0000

could still move Morse and have Tyler Moore play first. I would rather have Bryce play RF with his arm but Werth’s arm is good too. gonna be a great team if they can stay relatively healthy.

really hope they don’t get cute and move Lombo.

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:48:03 +0000

Meyer is very raw…he MAY top out as a No. 2 starter, or he might end up as a bullpen arm. He also has only one year of pro ball under his belt. This trade could eventually work out for both sides, but for the next couple of years it’s the Nats who will benefit from having a major need addressed at the MLB level.

By: unshavenjunk

unshavenjunk — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:46:04 +0000

I thought the Twins were supposed to be the farm system for the Yankees not the Nationals, first Ramos now Span–this guy better pan out better than Capps did

By: natslady

natslady — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:44:59 +0000

“Could” is the operative word. Meyer is tall and has trouble repeating his delivery, like some other tall pitchers. He won’t be ready until 2014 at the earliest, if he corrects his mechanical issues. Nats are in win-now mode, and just saved a bunch of money not going for Bourne. If Meyer pans out, then it’s a win-win. But, good as Werth was in the lead-off spot, when his wrist is fully healed and his power comes back, you want him lower in the order. So we can afford to trade Morse and keep ALR’s lefty bat. Plus you didn’t want Harper in CF forever. This solves two problems and gives the Nats an outstanding outfield.

By: paint771

paint771 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:40:26 +0000

Solid move by both teams, although I think Minnesota might have sold a bit low – they probably could have held out for the Nats to throw in a middle inning reliever or AAAA infielder or something.

Still, while this is indeed throwing in the towel in some respects for 2013 for the Twins and that’s gotta be discouraging for fans, at this point, why not? This is a damn near 100 loss team two years running – it really is time to pull an Astros and blow it up, rather than limp along hoping for divine intervention or something. It’s just not a team you can “fill holes” on or nibble around the edges. I think you gotta move Mauer, Morneau and Willingham – who ain’t getting any younger and will not be productive players by the time the Twins are ready to contend again. So what’s the point of hanging on to them? Their value is likely not going to go up substantially, but for all three could crash at any time. So get your hands on as many high-upside prospects as you can, draft well, and by 2015 or 2016 the twinkies could rise again.

By: natslady

natslady — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:38:53 +0000

Morse made some comments on Twitter about not being “here” in the future. Could have meant 2014, of course, since he will be a free agent after 2013. OTOH, LaRoche is going to Davey’s charity golf tournament and Morse isn’t. Just trying to read the tea leaves…

By: kopy

kopy — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:37:51 +0000

Span is a young, cheap player with a solid OBP and great defense at a premium position.