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SB Nation Mock GM Winter Meetings: Denard Span to Mets for Jeurys Familia and Rafael Montero

Twins still trade Span in my reality, but to a different team.

Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

I fielded multiple offers for Denard Span this morning, some of them more serious than others, but it came down to two teams. The best offer came from the New York Mets, who are sending Jeurys Familia and Rafael Montero to Minnesota.

According to the Mets' prospect page, Familia is their number two overall prospect and Montero is number eight.

On Familia, the page says:

As the strikeout rate attests, Familia has one of the best power arms in the Mets’ system. He runs his fastball easily into the upper 90s. He’s still more arm strength than anything else, but his success at upper levels shows that his secondary pitches are improving. Familia’s breaking ball should be an average pitch and his changeup, while clearly his third pitch, can keep hitters honest at times. He improved his walk rate and the hope is his overall command will continue to get better. The Mets gave him a chance to show his stuff in the Majors in 2012, where he made his debut on September 4.

My two cents: Familia is an MLB-ready starter with a power arm that can strike hitters out. He's 23. While we shouldn't expect him to step up and be an ace in 2013, if he can cut down on his walk rates he has the chance to be a very good pitcher who is capable of being a front-of-the-rotation guy.

On Montero:

Montero went from the Dominican Summer League to the Gulf Coast League before making stops in the Appalachian and New York-Penn Leagues to finish off a very successful first season as a professional. He picked up 2012 where he left off, excelling in the South Atlantic League and earning a promotion to Class A Advanced St. Lucie after 12 starts. The Dominican right-hander has the chance to have a good three-pitch mix with his fastball, curve and changeup, though the secondary pitches need work behind his fastball. He is advanced in that he commands all of his pitches and can throw all of them for strikes. After reaching an innings limit set by the Mets organization, Montero was shut down on August 11.

My two cents: While he's 22 and finished the year in advanced A-ball, Montero was only signed in January of 2011. This year will be just his third in the system. His command is a plus, and I see him having the upside of a #3 or #4 starter in two or three years' time.

How do you feel about this deal?