Section 219: Storen and Young Lombo? Make the deal

In about five hours, this post will be moot because the non-waiver trade deadline will have passed.

I like Denard Span a lot, and I won't feel bad if all the trade talk is just that and a deal doesn't go through.

I also think that if the Twins can get Drew Storen and Stephen Lombardozzi from the Washington Nationals, it's a deal that should be made.

The Twins are not going to pay Joe Nathan the $12.5 million option on his contract for 2012 and I'm going to assume that, as much love as he might have for the Twins, there will be a team willing to offer him enough money for him to go elsewhere. Matt Capps shouldn't be a trusted part of the future and Glen Perkins, if this season is an indication of what he can really do, can't be the entire bullpen.

To dismiss Storen as "Capps, the sequel" is silly.

To trade a 600 at-bat outfielder for an 80-inning pitcher isn't a slick idea, either.

But if the Twins can address another issue, I'm for taking the risk.

Minor-league fielding metrics are sketchy, but Lombardozzi has made only two errors in 407 chances this season -- almost all at second base with a few games at shortstop.

If the Twins can pick up a closer and an every-day second baseman in return for Span, they'll be a better team for doing so. Middle infield isn't exactly a strength, right?

But the deal needs to be for Storen and Lombardozzi. Accept no substitutes.

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Here are a few recent stories and blog posts about Lombardozzi:

Federal Baseball, July 27