Krukow: Denard Span 'the whole package' for Giants

Programming note: Watch Denard Span's introductory press conference today at 1pm on CSN Bay Area, and streaming live right here.

On Thursday afternoon, the Giants agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Denard Span.

On Thursday night, he passed his physical and officially signed the contract.

"I like defense and Span is fantastic," Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said on KNBR 680 on Friday morning. "He has great range ... AT&T is a big ballpark. Center field is a tough position. You need a guy who has great range and is a good route-runner.

"So from a defensive perspective, he's fantastic. He can play left field as well if they decide to play (Angel) Pagan in center."

In 2013 with the Twins, Span was second among American League center fielders in "Total Zone Runs" -- which is defined as "The number of runs above or below average the player was worth based on the number of plays made," according to baseball-reference.com.

In 2014 with the Nationals, Span led all National League center fielders in this category.

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But he isn't just a defensive guy.

"Offensively, the guy is a lifetime .287 hitter after eight years and he's got a little pop in his bat, too," Krukow explained. "He's not just a slappy, opposite-field left-handed hitter. So he's the whole package. He's got good speed, he can steal you a base, a guy who we've admired for a long time."

In 2009, Span hit .311 with eight home runs and 68 RBI. He led the AL with 10 triples and stole 23 bases.

In 2013, he led the NL with 11 triples.

In 2014, he hit .302 with five home runs and 37 RBI. He led the NL with 184 hits and also stole 31 bases.

He only played 61 games last year because core muscle surgery put him on the DL to start the season, and he had a left hip labrum tear repaired the first week of September, ending his final season in Washington D.C.

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"I don't look at him as a huge risk, although there is risk," Krukow said. "... I don't think Span is a guy that has to be thought of as a guy who is gonna play every day. You've got Angel (Pagan), you've got (Gregor) Blanco. You've got the same type of player with all three of those guys, with speed and defense being their strongest assets. And defensively that's huge, so I like the deal from a pitcher's standpoint.

"But I think Giants fans are gonna like him because of how offensive he is as well."

So who is going to play center field -- Span or Pagan?

Back on Dec. 8, Giants manager Bruce Bochy shared some interesting words.

“If you ask him he’s (Pagan) going to be more comfortable in center field because that’s where he’s been for the most part, but I’m sure he could go over to left field,” Bochy said. “I haven’t addressed that with him yet. I’m saying yet but it’s not like I’m looking to, but I think he’s a good enough athlete that he could go (to left).”

Who is going to hit leadoff -- Span or Pagan?

“Right now, he’s (Pagan) our leadoff hitter,” Bochy said on Dec. 8. "The plan is to lead him off."

Clearly, those plans may have changed.

Does Krukow think the Span-Pagan dynamic could be a problem?

"I don't think that's an issue at all. Pagan is all about winning. That's not gonna be a problem. He's a bit of a diva. A lot of your good center fielders are. He's gonna have to be managed. And I just don't think that's gonna be that big of a challenge for Bochy to keep him happy.

"It's his walk year. He wants to keep playing. You have to prove yourself every day. So his motivation is obviously gonna be for the team, but it's also gonna be for himself to keep going. I don't think he's gonna be a negative in any way, shape or form."