Minnesota Twins trade Denard Span to Washington Nationals for Minor Leaguer Alex Meyer- MLB News
As expected, the Minnesota Twins have traded outfielder Denard Span to the Washington Nationals for Minor Leaguer Alex Meyer. Denard made a strong return to baseball in 2012 after missing out the entire 2011 season due to a concussion.
The left-handed hitter had a .283 batting average in 2012 with a .342 on-base percentage. He had 146 hits including 42 extra base hits. Span did well in the centre field as well and posted a .989 fielding average with just four errors committed.
The hitter from Tampa, Florida was excited about the move to the Washington Nationals, something that almost took place almost a year and a half back as well. "My emotions right now are all over the place, but I'm definitely excited," he said. "I don't think
I was ready for it. Fast forward to now, I'm definitely ready to come to a team that is in place to win. I hope that I can come here and fit in."
The trade means that there will be some adjustments in the outfield for the Nationals. Jayson Werth should remain in right field like 2012 though rookie wonder boy Bryce Harper should be moving to left field.
Span hoped that playing alongside All-Star players should help him improve his own performance and is next aim is to land a spot on the All-Stars team. "I'm very excited to play with both of those guys -- two All-Star caliber players," Denard said. "I feel
like I need to step my game up and try to get to the All-Star Game, hopefully. They are going to elevate my game by playing alongside them."
Alex Meyer, whom the Twins will be receiving as a part of the trade was drafted by the Nationals in the first round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. In his first full season of professional baseball in 2012, Alex represented two of the Nationals’ farm
teams, Class-A Hagerstown and Class-A Potomac. In 25 starts, he posted a combined 10-6 win-loss ratio with a good 2.86 ERA.
This will be the first time in the Major League for Span to represent a team other than the Minnesota Twins. He made his debut for the club in April of 2008. He has posted a career batting average of .284 with 230 RBI’s and 23 home-runs.
Both teams have made trades that should suit them well. For the Twins, it will help them in the long run as they are trying to build a strong pitching unit for the future. Meyer’s immediate effect may be little but he can be one for the long haul as he moves
through the Twins’ Minor League ranks.
The Nationals get a good quality hitter who will also be more then useful in center field. Denard should be a good addition to the team that exceeded expectations in 2012 and made it to the post-season.
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