Nationals center fielder Denard Span is something of a wild card on next year’s free agent market. After battling through offseason core muscle surgery, his latest health issue, Span is somewhat quietly producing at a .292/.342/.514 clip. His power output is not likely to continue, of course, but it is good evidence that he is back to full strength and making hard contact. That’s all the more impressive given that Span has as many walks as strikeouts (six apiece) through his first 79 plate appearances. While defensive metrics continue to view Span more as an average center fielder than the very good one he used to be (and still is, in some eyes), he has a good chance of being the most appealing free agent center fielder if he can stay on the field and hit even at more typical rates — particularly since he is already coming off of a very strong 2014 campaign. As things stand, the 31-year-old seems on track to merit a qualifying offer from the Nats, which could potentially give the team four QO players (along with Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, and Ian Desmond).
- The Phillies player receiving the most concrete trade interest at this point in the season is not staff ace Cole Hamels, but veteran righty Aaron Harang, MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince reports. Indeed, Philadelphia looks to have a rather useful trade chip in Harang, who is under contract for just one year and $5MM. While he is probably unlikely to keep his walk rate under 2 per nine for the first time in his career, and may be in line for some BABIP-related regression, Harang has undeniably been excellent: through 45 1/3 innings, he owns a 2.38 ERA. Plenty of teams could use an arm like that at the back of their rotation, and Harang’s low price tag should increase competition for his services — and with it, the return for the Phils.
- Steve Cishek’s difficulties have led the Marlins to decide on a shake-up of their ninth-inning roles, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports. The club will seemingly use a mix of arms for the time being. Cishek, a 28-year-old sidearmer, inked a $6.65MM deal to avoid arbitration. With two more years of arb eligibility remaining, Cishek has lost over a tick off his average fastball and uncharacteristically walked eight batters in 11 1/3 frames. He does have plenty of time to turn things around, of course, but his hefty starting salary makes a contract tender look questionable even at this early stage.
Denard Span only looks ‘average’ because he doesn’t dive and leap as much as flashier OF. He runs pristine routes to balls, so he is in position for the ball and doesn’t need acrobatics to make the catch. Watch him play to see a much better than average CF.
I think the metrics show that he isn’t quite getting to the balls that he used to get to
He’s a very good player, but he’s a player who relies on his speed. Those type of players don’t last much longer once they pass the 30 year age marker.
You might be confusing him with Michael Bourn. Joking.
Haha, exactly my point.
Harang is exactly the type of piece you get an overpay for. With Hamels, everyone who is a potential trading partner spends so much time telling you how poor he is, and how expensive, and how little you should expect in return, that it’s very hard to make a deal unless someone is under the gun.
But on the other hand, with Harang everyone will tell you how he’ll come back down to earth, has a history of bad 2nd halves (which is somewhat true, somewhat false especially if you look at the last 5 seasons or so), etc.
Oddly enough when I looked at Harang’s stats month by month over the past handful of seasons a few days ago, he seems to usually have a very bad August followed by a very good September.
Either way, he should be a decent trade piece. Won’t bring back a top prospect, but should bring in a solid B level type if he keeps pitching well.
No idea why my original reply got deleted by the mods but here it is again…
On the other hand, people will tell you that Harang will come back down to earth, is a bad 2nd half pitcher, etc.
I actually looked up Harang’s stats over the past handful of seasons a few days ago and his poor 2nd half reputation is a bit overblown. However, oddly enough, he seems to usually have very bad Augusts followed by very good Septembers.
Either way, he should bring back a decent piece at the deadline. Not a top prospect, but a decent B level type.