The Giants expect to install Denard Span in center field and at the top of the lineup, pushing Angel Pagan to left, Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News writes, Having added Span, moreover, San Francisco appears not to be involved in the rest of the outfield market, according to Baggarly (via Twitter). Indeed, it’s not even clear that the team was looking elsewhere recently. Though Jon Morosi of FOX Sports had tweeted yesterday that the club was interested in Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes, Bob Nightengale of USA Today said after the Span signing (via Twitter) that the organization “never considered” a long-term arrangement with either player before locking up Span.
Here’s more from the NL West:
- While all involved acknowledged that the MRI results led to Kenta Maeda signing a lighter-than-expected deal with the Dodgers, club president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman says that the righty is “totally asymptomatic,” as Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports (Twitter links). The concerning results were not discovered during a team physical after a deal, Shaikin adds, but were apparent from the medicals submitted by Maeda to all MLB teams — which may explain why his market was so quiet.
- The Rockies are “making a push” for free agent outfielder Gerardo Parra, Jon Heyman reports on Twitter, though they aren’t alone. He previously noted Colorado’s interest, which would seem to make the most sense if the club is prepared to ship out one of its current starting outfielders.
- Padres righty Colin Rea moved quickly to reach the majors last year, and MLB.com’s Corey Brock writes that he’s looking forward to competing for a rotation spot this spring. Rea, 25, did end up being shutdown with elbow/forearm soreness, though he says that was precautionary.
can’t the giants trade pagan for cargo?
I like the route of Denard Span over Upton/Cespedes for the Giants.
One, Span can lead off and has the speed that can play well in a big park like San Francisco should he find a gap. Two, paying Upton or Cespedes would be pricy, and you’re paying them for power, which might be somewhat diminished in at AT&T.
Span’s injury history scares me a little bit, but it’s certainly a better investment than dropping $18-22M on Upton/Cespedes.
Agreed! They weren’t going to drop a mint on an Upton or Cespedes. They’ve already invested heavily in their rotation. If Span can stay healthy it will be very interesting to see what he does.
The problem with Span staying healthy is that he’s been on the DL at least once every season. I’d also be concerned about speed being one of his assets when he’s coming off of hip surgery. A 3/30 or whatever it was is still less risky than 6+ year deal for Cespedes or Upton.
Maybe the Giants Even Year Magic will rub off on Span and he will remain fairly healthy throughout the season.
Still, it’s a good signing by them nonetheless.
@bigkempin WTF are you talking about. 2014, Span played in 147 games setting the nationals franchise record for most hits in a season. 2013 played in 153 games. do you always talk out of your ass?
I’m not sure I agree that it’s riskier than Upton/Cespedes.
Both are going to likely cost around 18-22M AAV.. That’s 8-12M more than Span as well as 3 additional years on the deal. Overall, Upton/Cespedes run the risk of being $48-72M more than Span. And there’s no guarantee you get tons more production from either.
Span comes with risk, no doubt, but a 3/31 deal for a veteran certainly helps to minimize any such risk.
I would much rather have Fowler for 4/75 or something if I were SF. I’m not excited about a speed dependent player, in his 30s, with no power, coming off surgery, for three years.
4/75 and another draft pick was likely more than the Giants were willing to give up.
Plus, Span’s salary is going to be very friendly. $6M bonus, $3M in ’16, $9M next two, and a $4M buyout in year 4 (or a $12M option). That’s a pretty safe financial risk.
I was surprised though – I fully expected the giants to try out desmond as a super utility/lf
After watching him pitch at the end of last season, Rea seems like he has some potential. He could be a good mid-rotation guy eventually, but hopefully he doesn’t blow his arm out.
Talk about a class act on Maeda’s part.
Could have kept it under books like how other agents usually does but good for him.
Given that no teams entered the bidding and signed for eight years with only a 25 million guarantee, it doesn’t look like they’d be any way to hide his medicals. Not sure how that signifies a “class act.”
Hearing that Pagan is moving off center is the best part about the Span signing.
Agreed! Now if we could only trade him to the Yomiuri Giants.
You’ll need him. Span is gonna be on the 60 day by June.
Doesn’t matter. Pagan won’t play center again for the Giants even if Span is injured. That’s what Blanco is for.
Span is a good player, but Fowler offer better option
Is there any report if the giants worked him out or if he’s back to full speed yet? It’s interesting to me if they signed him only off of a physical and didn’t watch him run.
This very site had an article about the subject of Denard Span and a scheduled workout for interested MLB teams: link to mlbtraderumors.com
The Giants head trainer met with him in Florida and worked him out prior to the deal being officially put on the table.
In today’s world of crazy pitching valuation, Maeda is taking a huge gamble here. If he outperforms his bonuses, he’s leaving a TON of money on the table, and that comes down on the agent. I don’t know how he didn’t get more. I don’t remember if he has an opt out or not but if not, that’s a bad deal for him.
Maeda has tons of bonuses tied in with his contract:
For Games Played
$1M for 15 GP, 20 GP, $1.5M for 25, 30, 32… each mark he gets more money all upwards of $6..5M a year.
For Innings pitched,
250K for every ten innings beginning at 90 IP. Bonus of upwards of $3.5M a year.
Maeda could very well turn an 8/25 contract into an 8/105 contract based on performance. Which would still be a bargain, but nowhere near at the level he is at now.
And he does not receive an opt-out clause. The Dodgers aren’t going to pay $20M just to bring him over from Japan to watch him opt out.
Elbow/Forearm problems means Tommy John surgery is coming soon. Rea may make the back end of the Padres weak rotation, but I doubt he can pitch a full season after already having elbow issues. .