Article: Nationals Should Not Be Lone Suitor For Denard Span

[nicksaviking]

There MIGHT be enough options there to piece together 800-900 innings, but not enough talent to contend, at least not next year. Ryan has to see that.

That's the problem, it IS enough to contend in most years in the AL Central and Ryan knows it. The division is weak year in and year out and Ryan knows he just needs a couple of servicable arms to compete for the Central title. Cleveland's rotation is pretty poor and of similar talent caliber to the Twins. Unfortunately, the Indians somehow got enough effort out of their crappy starters to stay in games while the Twins pitchers, with a similar historically mediocre track record got destroyed and pulled before they got out of the 4th inning. It easily could have gone the other way in which case the Twins would have been around .500 and the Indians in the cellar. Before the season started, no one would have said the Indians rotaion of Lowe, Jimenez, Gomez, Tomlin and Masterson was significantly better than Pavano, Liriano, Blackburn, Marquis and Diamond/Hendricks/Walters. They are even composed of the same mixtures of Vets, high upside/high bust, and arbitration eligible pitch to contact guys.

 

But being able to contend next year is a problem. We know all too well this approach only gets you to the playoffs but does not help to advance in them. If Ryan indeed thinks the Twins can contend again next year, it means he thinks he can patch together another 1st round exit caliber playoff team with "servicable" innings eaters. It would take a mulity year overhaul if he has set his sights higher. So personally, I hope they make some drastic changes. Signing an over-acheiving, end of the line vet like Derek Lowe sure as hell isn't going to get the Indians anywhere if they make the playoffs. The Twins need to think bigger and put together a staff the right way next time they plan on competing.

[gunnarthor]

Sorry pal but Gerrardo Parra is Arizonas 4TH OF and is a far better offensive and defensive player than Span. If a team really needs a good/cheap/young CF they will be after Parra not Span.

Um, well Parra is younger but that's about it. Career OPS+ 104 v 94, career WAR 13.2 v 4.5. More of the same this year. Not sure why you'd even think that unless you're just blinded by some anti-Twin rage.

[Blackjack]

 

But being able to contend next year is a problem. We know all too well this approach only gets you to the playoffs but does not help to advance in them. If Ryan indeed thinks the Twins can contend again next year, it means he thinks he can patch together another 1st round exit caliber playoff team with "servicable" innings eaters.

If I had to pick, I'd rather have a contending team that has a chance to to win every night, plays .500 ball, and makes the playoffs vs the horrible team that we watched the first month and half of the season. Thats what you're going to have for years if you trade every decent player you have for unproven prospects.

[cr9617]

If I had to pick, I'd rather have a contending team that has a chance to to win every night, plays .500 ball, and makes the playoffs vs the horrible team that we watched the first month and half of the season. Thats what you're going to have for years if you trade every decent player you have for unproven prospects.

So, if the upside for a team is to hover around the .500 mark, in a bad division, with an outside chance to make the playoffs...you think this should be the goal? Striving for mediocrity should never be the goal.

[shs_59]

John, great thread I LOVE you're mention of Zach Cozart, though i'm not sure the Reds would be willing to part with him.

 

In general though, i think Denard Span should not be traded at all. He and Mauer are my 2 guys to build around, along with Dozier, Gibson, Diamond, Burton, Duensing, Perk, and hopefully Revere, Plouffe.

 

but of all those names Span and Mauer have to be at the top 1.B and 1 . A ......right?

 

If we're going to trade him we have to get a HUGE haul something like the Nats already gave up to get Gio Gonzalez.

(not quite that massive but close)

[ltwedt]

No one will bite on Span because he continues to show that he has no idea what he should do on the base paths once he gets on.

[Shane Wahl]

John, I believe they are two good starters away from competing. We are seeing that Scott Diamond will be an effective starter, one capable of filling one of the #3-#5 spots in the rotation. If you read my stuff every week, you know I believe that Liam Hendriks is going to be very good and should be back and pitching well later in the year. That is two, lets say #3 and #4. The fifth starter can come from a combination of Walters, DeVries, Blackburn, Gibson and Baker. I believe that at the end of the year (October) when he is beginning to throw, the Twins will work out something on Baker's contract and he will be back. Will he be ready on opening day, unlikely. Gibson could, but both should be ready during the season to fill in if one of the starting five fails or is injured.

 

That leaves two spots open. Yes, they are #1 and #2 which he will have to fill. As I look at the rest of the team, it is solid for next year. Fill those two spots and the Twins should be very good. Can they possibly do that by trading someone like Span for a young stud who will fill one of those two spots...maybe. In that case Mr. Ryan will have to evaluate what he has in the outfield and at the top of the order. Another option would be to package Liriano for a young starter in July...assuming the Frankie we saw the last two times out keeps showing up for another 7-8 starts!

Giving you credit for a very good post here, as I generally agree. Even ONE top or near top of the line starter would go a long way next year, as long as people are healthy. Ideally they sign one such pitcher and trade (not Span, but a package) for one B+ or better SP prospect who is no lower than AA this year.

[Dilligaf69]

I agree with whoever mentioned that we shouldn't just trade Span to trade him. He is under contract for a few more years and is a pretty good leadoff hitter and center fielder. If you can't receive some top prospects for him in return then why bother making a trade. The reason for trading established players is to build for the future, and you aren't going to improve in the future if you trade away the better players you have now for fringe prospects unless you have a younger player in your system who is ready to take the place of the guy you are trading. And I don't believe the Twins have that guy in place yet, Revere isn't ready and doesn't have the arm for CF and Hicks is still toiling in AA. Stand pat on Span unless they are blown away.

 

 

Keep him unless your getting something more then a fringe prospect...we have enough of them. Revere has been much a much better hitter this yr and IF Span is traded he will be the CF bad arm or not and the leadoff hitter but you don't GIVE Span away!

[sotafan]

Ok, there are a lot of different things people are throwing out there in regards to contending or rebuilding. There are pieces the Twins need to hang on to and there are piece that need the boot in the worst way. The 3-4 players that should be actively shopped at the deadline are the players that will not be here next year, Pavano, Capps, Doumit and Liriano. Just trade them for whatever you can get!!! We can save the money from their contracts the rest of 2012. As for trading Span, Morneau, and Willingham, C’mon MAN!!! They are the heart of this team and the main reason we are returning to respectable baseball. If you can get a haul for them then by all means, thanks for playing.

 

The main question that really needs to be analyzed and discussed is “what are the options for 2013 via free agency?” There are people saying we are one good arm away, or two away from contention. Well we are at least two away IMO but check it. In 2013, the payroll that is committed is roughly 65-70 mil. Now, if Ryan has a similar budget as this year, there is about 30mil to spend in FA. How can that money be used? TWO Starting pitchers!!!! Here is who is available in the 2013 free agency class.

Cole Hamels

Zach Greinke

Anibal Sanchez

Shaun Marcum

Erik Bedard

Edwin Jackson

Colby Lewis

Carlos Zambrano

 

The top 3 will be getting nice 5-7 year deals and they should because they are #1 pitchers. So pick one of the three—I like Greinke and he doesn’t like large market teams so we could make a run at him. I also like Sanchez for the #2 starter. Greinke will likely be in the 16-20mil range for 5 years. Sanchez would be in the 8-12 mil range for maybe 3 years. Hamels is a pipe dream, he will be way to expensive. The other five all can be that #2 starter and will likely be the in 5-12mil on 3 years deals.

 

Let’s play this out.

Greinke for 6 years at 18.5mil per

Sanchez for 4 years at 11.5mil per

Total is 30mil

With those two starters at the top of the rotation, and Diamond/Walters/Blackburn/Hendirks/Gibson fighting for the other three spots, would you consider the Twins a playoff contender and a good chance at getting pass the first round?? You would have to keep Willingham, Span and Morneau.

 

Will the FO be that bold and spend some money is the other question.

[TopGunn#22]

Sotafan hits the nail on the head! No matter what we do trade-wise this year at the deadline or in the off season, we need to pony up the CASH to sign TWO starters for the rotation. The pitchers he lists are the caliber we need to go after. Hamels is a pipe-dream. He'll either stay with Philly or sign with the Dodgers. Zambrano is a head case. Colby Lewis has shown he can pitch in the A.L. Sanchez, E. Jax and Marcum would all make a decent #2. Greinke is the target for #1. I could even see keeping Liriano around for the #5 spot if we can't get a decent prospect for him. Baker and Pavano gone. Trade "Blackie" to an N.L. team where he has at least a 10% chance of survival. He can't pitch in the A.L.