Twins Trade Denard Span to Nats for SP Alex Meyer

[jjgott]

Good trade for both teams. Guess Harper is moving over to LF now?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/nationals-acquire-denard-span.html

[Tedaldtada]

Twins got a big arm for a mediocre-ish OF. I like it for MN, but it is mutually beneficial. Is Span that much better than Aoki?

 

Harper's arm needs to be in CF or RF.

[Warning Track Power]

Another team out of the Hamilton sweepstakes.

[MNBrew]

Span's hardly mediocre unless you never see him play. The greater issue with him over the past couple years has been staying healthy. When he's been healthy, he's been a very solid contributor. He's a plus-defender, a decent baserunner, & a pretty good non-power hitter. When he's struggled the past couple years, it's most typically been either when he's playing hurt or trying to re-find his groove after DL time.

[Warning Track Power]

I seem to remember the Brewers asking about him when they traded Hardy for Gomez. As I recall, the Twins said he was off limits. My memory of this could be way off though.

[torts]

I wasnt even aware the Nationals were in the sweepstakes for Hamilton?

[Ennder]

Nice move by the Nationals. Harper in CF would be kind of scary, he has a rocket arm but he misplays a ton of balls.

[Tedaldtada]

Nice move by the Nationals. Harper in CF would be kind of scary, he has a rocket arm but he misplays a ton of balls.

 

He is, ya know, 20.

[DocLuna7]

In this morning's Washington Post it says that the Nats will determine who plays which corner outfield spot between Harper and Werth in spring training. Kind of an interesting approach. Both will be starters but neither will have a set position until exhibition games begin in a few months. (I don't have time for a link, sitting here in DC reading a hard-copy of the newspaper)

[JohnBriggs12]

Nationals can now let LaRoche go elsewhere. They still have an awesome lineup. On paper they are the strongest team in the NL and it's not all that close.

 

Twins made out great. Meyer has top of line starter ceiling and figures to move up very quickly.

[Roderick]

I wasnt even aware the Nationals were in the sweepstakes for Hamilton?

 

I would assume any team that has the bucks to spend that the Nationals have, would have to be considered.

[Ennder]

He is, ya know, 20.

 

Sure. At age 20 Griffey already looked like one of the best CF in baseball. Trout easily should have won a gold glove etc. Fielding is not generally a stat that improves with age unless a player is completely new at a position.

 

I definitely like this move for the Nationals. They probably overproduced more than any team in baseball last year but with another year of growth from their young players and a couple moves they can actually repeat.

[Tedaldtada]

He is, ya know, 20.

 

Sure. At age 20 Griffey already looked like one of the best CF in baseball. Trout easily should have won a gold glove etc. Fielding is not generally a stat that improves with age unless a player is completely new at a position.

 

I definitely like this move for the Nationals. They probably overproduced more than any team in baseball last year but with another year of growth from their young players and a couple moves they can actually repeat.

 

You list two greats as examples?

 

Anyways, Harper is new to the OF, he was primarily a C coming up as an amateur. He has, what, 200 career pro games at various OF positions?

 

Now, I think he is a natural RF, so this discussion really does not matter anyways. Just thought it was a bit weird to get on a 19 year old rookie for taking bad routes.

[Ennder]

Just thought it was a bit weird to get on a 19 year old rookie for taking bad routes.

 

It isn't just about bad routes. He completely loses flyballs on a regular basis. He doesn't look like a CF at all when you watch him, I think expecting him to play CF would be a huge mistake. His age really doesn't matter much in that statement.

[TooLiveBrew]

Just thought it was a bit weird to get on a 19 year old rookie for taking bad routes.

 

It isn't just about bad routes. He completely loses flyballs on a regular basis. He doesn't look like a CF at all when you watch him, I think expecting him to play CF would be a huge mistake. His age really doesn't matter much in that statement.

Well according to you, it was a huge mistake for the Nats to call him up in the first place.

[ELCABALLO45]

Didn't Harper just start playing the OF? Yes, let's just assume you have to move a 20 year old who has been playing OF for like 2 years out of CF. Seems logical.

[monty57]

Didn't Harper just start playing the OF? Yes, let's just assume you have to move a 20 year old who has been playing OF for like 2 years out of CF. Seems logical.

 

Maybe it shouldn't be assumed that Harper can't play CF, but if you get a better defensive player, it seems logical to move the worse defender to a corner OF spot. Aoki could play CF, but with Gomez around, Aoki plays RF.

 

With Harper's arm, he could be the best RF in baseball, and being "new" to the OF, it could take a lot of pressure off of him to have him play RF instead of CF.