Angels Trade for All-Star Pitcher Dan Haren
This trade is more about the future than this season
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PHOENIX - APRIL 05: Starting pitcher Dan Haren #15 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the San Diego Padres during the Opening Day major league baseball game at Chase Field on April 5, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Padres 6-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Angels are not giving up on this season after all.
They lost three of four last weekend to the Texas Rangers, putting them seven back of the Texas Rangers, which is a lot of ground to make up in six weeks. Especially since the Rangers are playing well and the Angels, well, not so much.
But the Angels made a trade to bring in a new All-Star pitcher, Dan Haren of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Angels gave up pitcher Joe Saunders and minor leaguers Rafael Rodriguez, Pat Corbin, and Tyler Skaggs.
This could be a real steal for the Angels -- even if not for this year, for future years.
Haren is not having a great season; he is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA. But the Angels are betting this is an aberration for a pitcher who had been to the All-Star game three straight years and even started for the American League in 2007. He is just 29, and there is reason to believe that he can bounce back and be a big addition for the Angels He is under contract for two more years (with a player option for a third year).
And the Angels did not give up much. Angels fans love Saunders but he is older and his statistical pitching numbers have never been as good as Haren’s. In addition, the Angels gave up three nice prospects -- you may love the potential they offered, but Haren offers help to the pitching staff in the here and now.
The Angels could use the pitching help, even though people thought the rotation was solid the Angels pitching numbers are not blowing anybody away. Haren with Jared Weaver, Joel Pinero and Ervin Santana make four-fifths of a good starting rotation. Scott Kazmir is not working out right now.
Haren is not likely to boost the Angels this season. The Angels aren't hitting that well, either, and Haren is not the big bat that will help there. Plus, losing the series last weekend in Texas makes it very unlikely the Angels are making a comeback to the playoffs this season anyway.
But the trade shows the Angels management is not giving up on it this season. And it shows they are willing to pay -- Haren makes $12 million next season -- to win again in the future.
