Nationals Trade For Denard Span Looking Less Likely

What’s weird is that the Sunday reports suggest that the Nationals are now willing to include the closer Storen, and the disagreement is centered on the rest of the package, since it wouldn’t be a one-for-one swap. So at least that implies movement. Trading a cost-controlled center fielder for a cost-controlled closer would be lopsided, so it stands to reason the Twins are looking for more value than just Storen, and the Nationals apparently don’t want to give much more up.

Here’s what’s weird about this: it seems to me a team would much rather have a good young center fielder than a good young closer. Yet, the good young center fielder is the one who’s available, while the good young closer is being protected. I don’t know if it’s worse that the Twins want to trade Span for Storen, or that the Nationals currently don’t.

But we’ll see. Trade-deadline stalemates have a way of working themselves out. Drew Storen, for what it’s worth, is very good. He just isn’t a gifted defensive center fielder who gets on base.

Of course, Span and Storen would be the prizes, and what complicates things is that Span still hasn’t played in the majors since June 6 after sustaining a concussion. But the Nationals don’t appear to be too worried, so, who knows? A healthy Span would seem to be a big get, considering his defense and ability to get on base.