Trading Span to a NON contender

[DaveW]

Was at the Mariners game last night and it struck me that they might be the perfect partner for the Twins when it comes to trading Span.

Obviously the Mariners are out of the race at this point, but it doesn't mean they aren't aggresively looking for long term bats.

 

They have an abundance of pitching in the majors and minors, but have one of the worst offenses I have seen in quite some time. They have been linked to aggresively pursuing Billy Butler lately but the price the Royals want is rather high, what are the odds we can match up with a team like Seattle for a trade?

[biggentleben]

Was at the Mariners game last night and it struck me that they might be the perfect partner for the Twins when it comes to trading Span.

Obviously the Mariners are out of the race at this point, but it doesn't mean they aren't aggresively looking for long term bats.

 

They have an abundance of pitching in the majors and minors, but have one of the worst offenses I have seen in quite some time. They have been linked to aggresively pursuing Billy Butler lately but the price the Royals want is rather high, what are the odds we can match up with a team like Seattle for a trade?

The Mariners have arguably the best defensive outfielder in baseball and their positional depth is almost exclusively in the outfield. They're much more looking for a corner OF or corner IF basher.

[Shane Wahl]

Regardless of the Mariners particular case, perhaps opening the field of candidates up might not be a bad idea given the friendliness of Span's contract in the future. Teams like the Padres, Brewers, and Athletics might be interested in becoming relevant again soon.

[greengoblinrulz]

teams out of the race will be involved in trades come the offseason.

Trading to a team like SEA is not doin your organization justice in finding the best deal.

[minn55441]

teams out of the race will be involved in trades come the offseason.

Trading to a team like SEA is not doin your organization justice in finding the best deal.

I agree, teams that feel they are only one piece away tend to overpay for that one piece. I would love to keep span on our roster, he is a great player and plays an important role on both offense and defense. That is why other teams want to add him to their lineups. The only reason to trade span is to acquire a position of need and to hopefully add more than an equal share during the process.

 

We can always keep him and acquire our position of need (pitching) through FA, but many times it is much less expensive to move a valuable piece (span) at a time of heightened value. Span has considerably more value to a team as they head into a playoff run rather than he ever wood during an off season trade.

[DaveW]

The Mariners have arguably the best defensive outfielder in baseball and their positional depth is almost exclusively in the outfield. They're much more looking for a corner OF or corner IF basher.

I'm sorry but Guiterrez is awful. Wells and Saunders both look to possibly be decent OF's but they are much better suited in RF/LF. Heck the Mariners are running Chone Figgins out in LF half the time.

 

The Mariners need bats, Span provides that. Though this all assumes Ichiro is gone after this year (which he should be).

 

The idea that only teams desperate at the deadline will give up solid value is a myth to. Look no further than the off-season trades of Young/Garza and Pineda/Montero.

 

Maybe they don't get something done by the deadline this year, but they should definitely be reaching out to teams like the Mariners when/if the time is right.

[John Bonnes]

I'll throw another team out there - the Phillies. It looks like they're resigned to losing Victorino. Why not get his replacement locked up and move him at the deadline?

[biggentleben]

I'm sorry but Guiterrez is awful. Wells and Saunders both look to possibly be decent OF's but they are much better suited in RF/LF. Heck the Mariners are running Chone Figgins out in LF half the time.

 

The Mariners need bats, Span provides that. Though this all assumes Ichiro is gone after this year (which he should be).

 

The idea that only teams desperate at the deadline will give up solid value is a myth to. Look no further than the off-season trades of Young/Garza and Pineda/Montero.

 

Maybe they don't get something done by the deadline this year, but they should definitely be reaching out to teams like the Mariners when/if the time is right.

And how can you gauge Gutierrez? He's been injured for over a year, save about a two week span this year. He's tremendous defensively, though he's certainly nothing special offensively. Mike Carp was doing very well before he was hurt as well. They're deep at 3B in the minors as well. Span wouldn't give them what they truly need, which is power bats. Now if you were trading Willingham, that could have legs, but Span makes no sense for the Mariners.

[DaveW]

And how can you gauge Gutierrez?

He is 29 and he is not good offensively. His last 1000 PA have produced this line: .239/.289/.336 201/66 K/BB ratio.

Last I checked that is terrible.

 

The funny thing is you were the one dismissing Span's value in another thread, while now pimping Guiterrez.

 

Gutierrez is obviously better defensively, but Span is still one of the better defensive CF in the game currently.

[DaveW]

I'll throw another team out there - the Phillies. It looks like they're resigned to losing Victorino. Why not get his replacement locked up and move him at the deadline?

The Phillies aren't smart enough to do that sort of move, their M.O. is to simply overpay for production

[biggentleben]

He is 29 and he is not good offensively. His last 1000 PA have produced this line: .239/.289/.336 201/66 K/BB ratio.

Last I checked that is terrible.

 

The funny thing is you were the one dismissing Span's value in another thread, while now pimping Guiterrez.

 

Gutierrez is obviously better defensively, but Span is still one of the better defensive CF in the game currently.

Incorrect. I love Span. I don't think a top 20 prospect will be coming back for him, but I do love him as a player. Heck, I've talked him up so much on Braves boards that I get crud about it now when the discussion of a 2013 CF comes up.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Incorrect. I love Span. I don't think a top 20 prospect will be coming back for him, but I do love him as a player. Heck, I've talked him up so much on Braves boards that I get crud about it now when the discussion of a 2013 CF comes up.

Are there people out there who believe Span will bring back a top 20 player?

 

Top 50, sure. Two top 100s, maybe. But a top 20? Nah. I love Denard but he's just not worth that kind of prospect.

[Shane Wahl]

Top 20 pitcher is really the question. To me, outside of that possibility or perhaps a good established major league pitcher right now and a lower prospect, I don't really even think about trading Span.

[DaveW]

Incorrect. I love Span. I don't think a top 20 prospect will be coming back for him, but I do love him as a player. Heck, I've talked him up so much on Braves boards that I get crud about it now when the discussion of a 2013 CF comes up.

Don't distort the argument, nobody claimed top 20, you were saying he wouldn't net anything like a top 50 prospect. (or possibly top 100 I need to reread it) Then again top 50, top 100 is very subjective. Either way Span should be able to bring back a nice haul if he is traded to a contender or non.

[J-Dog Dungan]

The reason that I would say the Twins would be able to trade with the Mariners is that they have been said, at least on MLBTR, to be interested in dealing some of their SP talent, but not King Felix, that is currently up in the Majors for a bat. Why not Span or Willingham, even though I think that the Twins should hold on to Hammer for the time being.

[biggentleben]

Don't distort the argument, nobody claimed top 20, you were saying he wouldn't net anything like a top 50 prospect. (or possibly top 100 I need to reread it) Then again top 50, top 100 is very subjective. Either way Span should be able to bring back a nice haul if he is traded to a contender or non.

I'm not distorting anything, just stating what I have all along.

 

And I do not see a preseason top 50 guy available for Span. That's where the whole Zach Wheeler for Beltran argument came in. Wheeler was not a top 50 guy going into 2011. I'm not sure that there's a top 50 guy for Span out there. I don't doubt a top 100 guy, but drawing any line in the sand at top 50 is going to guarantee Span is a Twin.