When the Nationals were endeavoring to acquire a prototypical leadoff hitter and center fielder last summer, a prime target was Minnesota’s Denard Span. Span, 27 years old, seemed to offer the tangible skills to fill the position for years to come. He has a high on-base percentage, speed on the bases, a solid defender and off-the-charts makeup. Additionally, he’s signed through 2014 at pretty cheap money. A lot to like, no question about it. The target of the Twins’ desire was Nats closer Drew Storen, and according to multiple sources, Washington was willing to part with Storen to get Span.
A year earlier, the Twins traded high-ceiling catching prospect Wilson Ramos to Washington for then-closer Matt Capps. Capps helped the Twins reach the postseason last year, and Ramos became the Nats’ top catcher. Capps — and veteran Joe Nathan — faltered this year, and Minnesota, still with postseason aspirations, figured they’d go back to the well in Washington and do it again, since they had young Ben Revere ready to take over for Span in center field.
But then, there was a glitch. Span was diagnosed with a concussion after what seemed a relatively minor home-plate collision with Royals catcher Brayan Pena on June?3 and was placed on the seven-day concussion-related DL. He was eventually reactivated but never found his game again and eventually returned to the DL. That he had a prior history of vertigo didn’t help, and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo backed away from the deal.
How good was Storen in 2011? Only two other big league closers saved a larger percentage of his team’s wins than Storen. He earned saves in 43 of the Nationals’ 80 wins this season, almost 54 percent. Only San Diego’s Heath Bell (60.5 percent) and Pittsburgh’s Joel Hanrahan (56.3 percent) saved a greater percentage of their team’s victories.
Storen and Bell are part of a pretty rare breed that has been closers from day one of their professional careers. Most closers spend at least some time starting in the minor leagues. Storen, along with set-up guy Tyler Clippard, gave the Nationals a formidable back end of the bullpen that should stay intact for years to come.
So who would have taken over closer duties had a Storen-for-Span deal been consummated? It might’ve been Clippard, whose repertoire certainly translates into the role. Or maybe Henry Rodriguez, who can alternately tease you with smoke or frustrate you with a lack of command. How about Sean Burnett, who’s earned seven of his eight career saves in a Nats uniform?
We may never know, and it’s just as well. Storen never really wanted to leave Washington, and the Twins, who ended up with 99 losses, have more problems than simply finding a closer.
Rizzo’s instincts told him to hang up the phone. That’s what he gets paid to do.
Examiner columnist Phil Wood is a baseball historian and contributor to MASN’s Nats Xtra. Contact him at [email protected].
