MLB Trade Deadline: Washington Nationals Crazy for Shopping Drew Storen
By on July 30, 2011
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In 2009, Drew Storen was a highly touted relief pitcher out of Stanford University. Seeing his talent, the Washington Nationals drafted him with the tenth pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. By the following season, Storen was the setup man out of the team's bullpen.
This season, team management took a bigger step with Storen. After doing closer-by-committee for the first few weeks of the season, the Nationals handed the reins over to him full time. Storen has handled that job with ease, registering 26 saves while posting a 2.63 ERA.
In Storen, the Nationals have a solid young core that also features the likes of infielders Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa, catcher Wilson Ramos, and also future stars Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Thus, I think I speak for the masses when I express my confusion at this report by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
According to Rosenthal, the Nationals are in talks with the Minnesota Twins to trade Storen for outfielder Denard Span. Details of the deal are still being worked out, but it is still confusing as to why Nationals GM Mike Rizzo would even consider trading his star closer.
On the Twins' end, I can understand wanting to deal Span. Like most of the Twins this season, Span has underachieved at the plate and while he is hitting .294, he only has two home runs, 15 RBI and just four stolen bases. Keep in mind, he finished last season with 26 steals. On top of that, he has struggled with injuries this season and has only appeared in 56 games.
More importantly, Span is 27 years old and has basically peaked. Storen is 23 and has a whole load of potential and a bright future ahead of him. Once Strasburg returns and Harper is a regular, the Nationals will have the ability to have a truly well-rounded roster with a deadly closer coming out of the bullpen as they contend for a playoff spot.
That being said, trading Storen for Span is a deal that could go down as one of the stupidest in MLB history.
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