The trade deadline is always exciting! Your team can get better no matter where they are in the standings. If they are buyers, they can get a player that could be another piece & possibly the final piece to make that run at a championship. If they are sellers, they can improve by filling a need at a weaker position or just upgrade a position with some better prospects.
A trade can also open up a spot for a deserving prospect that has been tearing it up or pitching lights out in the minors.
It can be a sad experience also. Your team might trade your favorite player and you won’t see anything positive from the trade for a long time. If they get lower level prospects, you might not see them for 4-5 seasons! By the time they show up, it might not be mentioned how the player came to you team.
There’s always a ton of trade rumors that never get completed and might have never been discussed to begin with. It’s fun to see some of them while others leave you dumbfounded.*
*Some of the dumbfounded ones turn into reality and are never forgotten. Hopefully last year’s Capps for Ramos trade doesn’t turn into one of those but it doesn’t look good right now. Starting catcher for a relief pitcher who has gone from good to not so good. Capps needs to turn it around this season if the Twins hope to make the playoffs.
Still 6 games back of 1st place Detroit, the Twins have a plethora of players that could be traded including Delmon Young, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome and more.
Trade Denard Span?
The biggest rumor going around involving the Twins has the Washington Nationals trying to pry Denard Span away for a combination of RHP Tyler Clippard, RHP/Closer Drew Storen, OF Roger Bernadina & 2B Stephen Lombardozzi.*
*That would be a Lombardozzi of a trade! Haha! Yes, that Lombardozzi! He is the sun of former Twins 2B Steve Lombardozzi who played 5 seasons with the Twins including a somewhat memorable season in 1987!
Trading Span makes some sense as the Twins are pretty deep in outfield prospects with Aaron Hicks, Joe Benson, Angel Morales, Oswaldo Arcia, Rene Tosoni & Eddie Rosario. Some of those prospects should make it to the Twins soon so moving Denard might be inevitable anyways.
It would also open up the center field spot for Ben Revere, who has made an impact when he’s in the lineup. He needs to improve his on-base skills and he has a weak arm that may be better suited for a corner outfield spot. If the Twins could get their closer of the future in this trade in Drew Storen, they could drop some salary in Capps and/or Nathan in another trade.
Of course, trading Span would mean your trading your leadoff hitter whose put up some good numbers since his debut in 2008. He knows how to get on base and has been one of the best centerfielders in the American League (2nd in Defensive WAR this season) if not all of baseball. Target Field has sapped some of his power (or the ‘Dome increased his power) but he will still hit for extra-bases and he’s a good base stealer.
It comes down to how Revere & Span compare and if Ben can replace Denard?
- Offense
- Span – will hit around .300 every season with some extra-base power with 7-10 home runs; Good on the basepaths with 30 stolen-base potential (he’s had a better stolen base percentage in the majors than he did in the minors – 76% > 66%); great on-base skills, good eye at the plate (career 0.82 walk to strikeout ratio)
- Revere – too early to speculate on MLB stats but looking at his minor league stats he hit over .300 every season in the minors with less power but more speed on the bases (5 career HRs & 154 SBs in 4+ minor league seasons); more of a singles-hitter but the ability to steal second consistently (SB% – 79% in minors (154-195), 75% w/Twins (18-24); he doesn’t walk much or strikeout much (0.65 BB/K ratio)
- Defense
- Span – Very good defensively in center field but still may be better in a corner outfield spot, decent arm strength
- Revere – Very good defensive center fielder, might make some outs with his glove that nobody else can with his speed but his arm is a weakness that might move him to a corner outfield spot
Denard has been out with concussion symptoms since June 10th which is a worrisome situation. We’ve seen what a concussion has done to Justin Morneau. He was out for half of the 2010 season and got back to begin the 2011 season but has suffered other injuries that look unrelated to a concussion. Denard is rumored to be close to ready to return to the Twins soon.
Denard Span & Ben Revere are very similar players that can make an impact on the game in a variety of ways. They would be alright with either player in center field now and in the future.
UPDATE: Denard Span was NOT traded at the trading deadline and will be activated to begin the Twins series in Los Angeles on Tuesday!
Sometimes the best trades are the ones that are never completed. The Twins should get Justin Morneau back around the middle of August which will be like getting him in a trade and a boost to the Twins offense. Maybe they’ll get Kevin Slowey, if he isn’t traded, back up to the rotation too. He would be a nice addition to the rotation if Blackburn keeps pitching the way he has been lately.
That’s my TwinsTake! What’s yours? Are you excited for the trading deadline this year? Do you think the Twins should be buyers or sellers? or stand pat?
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Robb Dahlen
