Span traded for top prospect

Twins General Manager, Terry Ryan, has never been one to follow convention. 

Denard Span has been available and rumored to be traded for the past two seasons, but Ryan knew he had a solid everyday player and former 1st round draft pick, a player under a very club-friendly contract that deserved a good return. Additionally, a full season of good health eliminated any concerns that Span may experience concussion-like symptoms that plagued him during 2011, which previously hampered his trade value.

After all this waiting and speculating, it was finally the moment when Denard Span’s value was at it’s absolute peak. Center field has arguably been the position in most high demand this offseason, with the Phillies, Nationals, Braves, Rays and Giants all looking to sign a veteran center fielder and leadoff hitter. As fate would have it, these five teams arguably have the deepest starting pitching depth in baseball, well documented as the Twins most glaring need. 

The center field market had been waiting on top free agent, BJ Upton, who finally signed a 5-year, $75.25 million deal with the Braves. That left the Phillies, Nationals, Rays and Giants to all compete for the likes of former Giants center fielder, Angel Pagan, 32, whom is likely to be overpaid generously. The timing also comes just before the Winter Meetings, when many teams may solve center field problems, thus decreasing Span’s competitive value.

On paper, Pagan and Span’s statistical value is nearly identical. 

Span:: .284 average, .357 OBP, 90 stolen bases, 2354 career at-bats. 

Pagan:: .281 average, .333 OBP, 124 stolen bases, 2414 career at-bats

The main difference, however, is that Span is four years younger and under a contract that should pay him approximately half of Pagan’s projected salary over the next three seasons. Assuming all options are picked up, Span will earn $20.25 million over the next three seasons. Pagan is rumored to be seeking at least a three-year deal worth in the range of $30-40 million.

That means that any team interested in Pagan could get a younger player in Span for a savings of at least $10-20 million. Yes, it would seem the Twins had a very nice bargaining chip.

Popular convention would have the Twins trading for one of at least six solid major-league ready starting pitchers on the Nationals or Rays roster. That’s right, each team has at least six pitchers that would easily crack the top-3 on the Twins staff.

Terry Ryan, however, has never been one to play by popular convention. Rather than picking a more experienced pitcher, he focused on pure talent, and sneakily acquired Alex Meyer, the 23rd overall draft pick in 2011. Meyer has only one season of minor league experience, but is a soon-to-be 23-year-old who stands at 6’9”, dominated in college and has drawn comparisons to Justin Verlander. With a fastball clocked at 99 miles per hour and a nasty knuckle-curve, Meyer now has perhaps the best stuff in the Twins organization.

Although it seems likely he will start in AA New Britain, Ryan coyly hinted that Meyer will be given a shot to crack to major-league rotation sooner rather than later.

“I'll let him dictate where he's going to end up in which spot in the rotation and all that. But he's certainly has the capability of providing some quality innings." Ryan was quoted, indicating that there may be little hesitation if he is one of their top 5 starting options.

"Every club in the game wants pitching of this nature. He's got stuff, and he throws it over."

Trading for a young power pitcher is certainly risky, as most tend to suffer Tommy John surgery or something similar early in their careers. But certainly the Twins will be careful with him, and they may have landed a possible top pitcher for many years to come.