Meyer and Span

[LimestoneBaggy]

Just out of curiosity, even without Alex Meyer playing a single Major League Game, does anyone think Washington made a good trade?

[Badsmerf]

Span is a pretty solid CF, the jury is still out on Meyer. The Nats were in playoff mode so adding a piece like Span was necessary to compete. Proven commodities are worth a lot. Plus, the Nats had a pretty solid rotation already and they were desperate for a CF worth his salt and a leadoff hitter. I think it was a good trade.

[Mike Sixel]

Yes, if you believe that Washington is a playoff team right now, which I do. That said, I think it is likely the Twins also made a good trade.

[tobi0040]

Dealing from a position of strength for a high end pitching prospect is one I like. Even if Meyer doesn't turn out, I would support similar trades in the future.

[twinsnorth49]

Good for both teams, Twins definitely risked more getting rid of a proven player, but with as much of a sure thing as it gets coming through in Buxton it was worth it.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I think it was a good trade for both teams. Span did not produce like we all expected, but for the Nationals it made sense on paper. Remember that Meyer had arm issues before. They may have thought he would never get past those issues.

 

As things sit right now, I really like this trade for the Twins.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Span was a nice acquisition for the Nats. He posted a .707 OPS and a 2.4 WAR. He was a fine player and was not the reason for the Nats stumbling in 2013... That was on everybody else, not Denard.

 

It was a good trade for both teams... But it looks like it's going to work out a little better for the Twins because the Nats stumbled last year. Again, not Span's fault.

[Danchat]

Span wouldn't be making this team much better, maybe 2 more wins with him. If Meyer can fit in as a piece of the future (and not get hurt) then it will be a success in my mind, no matter how Span plays.

[drock2190]

I like the trade for the Twins. Can never have too many power arms.

 

Though I do miss Span, he was a good player.

[Thrylos]

Span's bat has been on a constant decline pretty much since 2009/10 and last season he posted a career low .327 OBP. He has been a 2-3 WAR player because of his defense. He is turning 30 before this season and will be continue the decline. Meyer is under team control for 6+ years and can be a 5+ WAR starter for those 6 years. So the diff here is like the Garza for Young trade, with higher baselines on both ways, not to count the $ diff.

 

Slam dunk for the Twins on paper, but injuries and such happen.

[cmb0252]

I was always a huge fan of Span but it takes value to get value. Starters with front of the rotation potential don't grow on trees. Even if Meyer flames out I would be fine with the trade. At least we tried.

[cmathewson]

To me, this is a clear win for the Twins. Span is about a 2 WAR player. Meyer's upside is 4-5 WAR. Also, Meyer will be a cheap player at that WAR level for a few more years before Span gets expensive.

[jimbo92107]

Twins got the best of the deal with Meyer.

Nats got the best of the deal with Span.

 

Ask me ten years from now, and I can say I called it!

[Brock Beauchamp]

To me, this is a clear win for the Twins. Span is about a 2 WAR player. Meyer's upside is 4-5 WAR. Also, Meyer will be a cheap player at that WAR level for a few more years before Span gets expensive.

 

Span has a fWAR of 3.6 and 3.5 the past two years.

 

The Nationals wanted to win now. Span did his part to help that happen, though the rest of the the team didn't live up to their potential.

 

The Twins wanted to win in a couple of years. Meyer looks like he's going to do his part to help that happen.

 

I still don't see a "winner" because the two teams had very different goals.

[iTwins]

I like the trade from both sides.

 

The Nationals were (are) close to contention and needed a reliable CF. They dealt from a position of strength (starting pitching) to acquire the piece they needed.

 

The Twins were in need of high quality starting pitching and dealt from a position of strength (CF) to make that deal happen.

 

If Meyer turns into the player the experts are projecting him to be - I think it's a win for both sides. (Assuming Span continues to play at the same level for the next couple of seasons).

[halfchest]

http://www.masnsports.com/nationals_pastime/2013/10/looking-back-on-the-two-winter-trades.html

 

For what its worth here's an article written by a DC sportswriter after the 2013 season. At this point this trade really looks win win. Span performed decently and Meyer was great but had the injury issues. As in any trade involving prospects its going to be awhile til we can evaluate this one fully.

[Badsmerf]

Not a slam dunk at all. Span is a proven commodity. He is a good player with a good attitude and a great lead-off hitter. Meyer had a shoulder injury that lost him half the season in 2013. Sure, he has potential to be a great pitcher, but so did Philip Hughes. You can't count on prospects reaching their ceiling. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Regardless, you need acquire as much high-end talent as possible to get high-caliber players. I am a fan of the trade, but I do believe Span is a pretty good player.

 

The entire reason it happened is because it made sense for both teams. If the Nats make a playoff run in the next few years (completely possible) Span will be a big part of it. If the Twins turn it around in the next few years, Meyer will most likely be a part of it. Both teams win this IMO.

[twinsfan34]

Agree with most everyone here, in that I like it for both teams.

 

The Twins weren't going to have much of a difference for keeping Span and it would/could make a difference for the Nationals.

 

Meyer has enough upside to even if he does 'better' (WAR) than Span, the timing of it made it a good trade because Meyer couldn't give those 2-4 Wins that Span could at that time.

 

It's why I'm not so hot on Stephen Drew at this time. I don't see the necessity of spending $10-12M per for a 1...maybe 2 Win upgrade over a $500k a year player and when his timing of contribution to a winner, 2015 and beyond, is very slim.

[Jim Crikket]

If Meyer becomes something close to what we hope he will, then there almost certainly will come a time when Nats fans will really wish they had kept him. How strongly they feel that way is likely to be determined by whether Washington ever does make a World Series run before then. If not, then getting Span won't have accomplished what it was supposed to accomplish.