30
2012
One Player The Mets Should Look At
An article by 
The Mets have been reeling since the all-star break and their 2012 chances are as bleak as ever. The trade deadline is just 24 hours away and as expected, the Mets have been fairly silent. Nobody expects the team to make a huge move, which is warranted due to the team’s poor play in the past two weeks. However, one move that does make sense to me is acquiring Denard Span. Hear me out on this one.
Span has always had decent plate discipline and speed, and above average defense. He fits the Mets mold and would be welcomed for his ability to bat leadoff. The Mets lack a true leadoff hitter, who can make an impact with speed, which is where Span can make a big difference. He is a 20-25 SB threat, who gets on base enough to score 100 runs on a good team. His best season came in 2009 when he had a slash of .311/.392/.415. He scored 97 R to go along with 23 SB. He’s a solid starting CF that would be under team control for two more years.
Now the question is how the Mets could get him. The Twins are in need of young talent, which is something the Mets can provide. A package including two of Domingo Tapia/Colin McHugh/Matt Den Dekker could get the job done. If the Twins are looking more for a major league bat, then Daniel Murphy makes sense in a trade. The Mets then could demand the Twins to pay some of Span’s contract, which would be a big plus. I envision a lineup where the leadoff man can steal more than 10 bases a year, which is why I feel like Span would be a good fit. A 1-2 punch of Span and Tejada would pose a formidable table setting crew for David Wright and Ike Davis.
What do you think of Denard Span?
About the Author: Sagar Parikh
Senior at Villanova University and passionate sports fan. Whether its baseball or curling, you can find me in front of the TV. I love the Mets and my favorite player of all-time is Mike Piazza. If you want someone to just chat about sports, I'm your guy!
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 22 | 18 | .550 | - |
| Nationals | 22 | 19 | .537 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 19 | 22 | .463 | 3.5 |
| Mets | 15 | 23 | .395 | 6.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 30 | .268 | 11.5 |
Last updated: 05/17/2013
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I like Span, but if I’m the Twins – I hate your offer.
To quote ESPN’s buster Olney
“Oh, sure, you can call the Minnesota Twins and ask about Denard Span, a good player who would help any good team. Span is hitting .288 with a .352 on-base percentage, solid numbers for a leadoff hitter.
But an underlying factor that makes it more difficult for the Twins to trade Span has nothing to do with OPS or defensive metrics: His contract is valuable.
At this time of year, some players, such as Alfonso Soriano, are available because of their contracts. In the case of Span, his deal makes him almost invaluable. “It’s really hard to place a value on a contract like that,” said one GM. “It makes it tough to trade a player [in that circumstance], because you almost have to get overpaid to walk away from that deal, or there’s something else going on.”
Bob Nightengale tweeted “The Minnesota #Twins are listening to offers for CF Denard Span, but won’t move him unless they get a major-league starter back in return.”
Can Span get dealt? Absolutely. But they don’t NEED to trade him and unless you’re giving up REAL value (not fan perceived value) then it’s unrealistic to assume the Mets can get him.
Would you trade Niese and some minor leaguers you mentioned for Span?
I like Span a lot. If the Twins would let him run I bet he could steal 40-50 bases.
Sagar, I think SB are way over valued and I’d prefer power over OBP (which the Mets have) at this point.
But, I like the thinking behind it otherwise. He’s an upgrade in CF and is young.
I might disagree with your proposal, but it is a lot better than “trade someone!”.
I agree that SB are overvalued, but there is no question that the Mets lack speed. 1st to 3rd and scoring from 1st on doubles are important. Especially the way that Tejada and Wright smoke extra base hits. I like Span because of that reason. He gets on base and he plays good defense. I think that’s what the Mets were hoping Andres Torres would do.
Back in 2008, Span was beaten out by our old friend Carlos Gomez for the starting center field job for the Twins. He’s a pretty good player but he would be another lefty bat in an already overloaded lefty lineup.
Then there is the matter of money. Back in 2010, Span signe a five-year deal worth $16.5 million with the Minnesota Twins that included an option for the 2015 season worth $9 million with a $500,000 buyout.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Reds have “kicked the tires” on Minnesota Twin Denard Span. According to Rosenthal, the 28-year-old is due $3 million this season, $4.75 million in 2013 and $6.5 million in 2014 with a club option for $9 million in 2015.
Agree with Des. Another LH bat is not what this team needs and also if it would be a Tapia to get this deal done then that’s where I say no thanks. That kid has a chance to be a stud and unless I’m getting another stud back I’m not parting with his potential. Span is a nice player but he’s not worth giving up a Tapia to get. McHugh and DenDekker, yeah fine but I doubt that gets it done with Spans reasonable contract, even if Tapia were to be the one to add.
Would love to see Span on the Mets but not sure what we would have to give up. Duda and an A-Baller?
no thanks. Not a good enough player to have to put up with his antics…
You got that right oleo…Its real hard to be better than Torres isn’t it!!!!!!!! That’s why the Mets don’t make any move. Sandy has his perfect team. A bunch of mediocrities all in his mediocre image.
i am not so sure that Den Dekker could not come up and hit .275 or .280 with his speed. And he could steal some bases too.
He’s hitting .202 in AAA in 43 games, may not be the prospect we thought he was. Small sample size, hopefully he can straighten it out.
he just got there. lots of guys need a period of adjustment. I’ll hang with the young, promising guy.
Cool post and one that I agree with. I’m a huge fan of Span and considering our quagmire in the outfield, it’s time we get at least one of those spots settled before next season. By and large Duda and Nieuwenuise are flops. Torres is gone after the season and so is Hairston. We basically have Bay and that’s it! I’d try going after one of the Uptons first.
Your an idiot if u would trade Tapia! Thank god your not our gm!! Possible top of the rotation starter that throws close to a 100 mph hard sinker for a decent outfielder? And give them another player on top of it???? Right…..
So does Parnell genius.
Top of the rotation starter? Go back to Metsblog.
Span is good. Would not trade the farm for him.
Nats will overpay as he is their target.
I just looked at Blanton’s numbers and m surprised more tems do not see him as a great option. I’d love to see the Mets jump at getting another starter rather than a position player with questionable skills.
Trade Tapia for Span ?? No way. We could get so much more for Tapia right now not to mention DenDekker’s high probabilty of contributing and outside chance MuHugh contributes in some role. Plus, Nieuwenhuis was prob mishandled and should been sent down a month ago to get everyday ab’s to build off some success. I still think they give him cf next season, maybe find a righty cf/of to spell him. Hairston’s season will award him a real contract next season, not sure if it will be on the Mets. Plus w/ Tejada having zero HR power (althou i like him solid bat), the uncertainty around the future of Duda, and Thole as part of our catching situation next season, we need someone w/more POWER imo.
Kind of depressing see all these trades go through and we do nada. BLeague didn’t go for much but Braves really overpaid for Maholm imo. I was just hoping Alderson would be more oportunistic and active in even making small trades to either improce team this year w/out mortgaging big future piece or a trade that could help us next year. He does a whole lot of nothing but talk imo..
HERE’S MY BEST BET…. WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF ALDERSON’S CALL TO TWINS’ FO HE’S HEARING THE NAMES HAVEY,WHEELER,FAMILIA BEING TOSSED BACK @ HIM AS TO SPAN’S PRICETAG; JUST AS ALDERSON MOST LIKELY DID TO SABEAN WHEN THE TOPIC WAS BELTRAN REST ASSURED THE MLB UNIVERSE ALL KNOW ALDERSON’S SITTING ON YOUNG PITCHING AND THEY ALL WANT YOUNG PITCHING SINCE IT’S THE HIGHEST VALUED COIN OF THE MLB REALM.
WHY WOULD THEY CONSIDER DIME A DOZEN TALENT LEVEL POSITIONERS NO ONE OUTSIDE NY ENVISION AS EXCITING LIKE U R PROPOSING
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IN ANY MLB TRADE DISCUSSION IS WHO INITIATED THE CALL. AS IT’S 99% THE RECIPIENT THAT GETS TO NAME THE PRICE REQUIRED. RARELY THE INITIATOR.