http://content.usatoday.com/communi...7/angels-acquire-dan-haren-for-joe-saunders/1 http://content.usatoday.com/communi...7/angels-acquire-dan-haren-for-joe-saunders/1 The first major pitching trade of deadline week came Sunday afternoon when the Los Angeles Angels acquired Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks for left-hander Joe Saunders and three other players. Haren, 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA this year, was one of the major pitching targets among contenders before the July 31 deadline for non-waiver trades. He won at least 14 games in each of the previous five seasons with Oakland and Arizona, topping out at 16-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 2008. He is owed at least $29 million through 2012, including salaries of $12.5 million in 2011 and '12. Also going to Arizona in the deal are left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin, right-hander Rafael Rodriguez and a player to be named later.
The D-Backs were perfectly happy to deal with the Pinstripes. The problem is, the Yankees wouldn't give up Joba Chamberlain. Say what you want about Joe Saunders and the prospects, but it's still a better return than Ivan Nova and Zach MacAllister. I find the Yankees reluctance to part with Joba pretty stupid, by the way. If they view him has a relief pitcher long term, and it seems fairly obvious that they do, then it makes no sense to refuse to put him in the package. 3 years of Haren is infinitely more valuable than 3 years of Joba as a reliever, and that would be true even if Chamberlain wasn't pitching horribly.
Great non-move by the Yankees. They would have no place for Cliff Lee this winter if they made a trade for Haren and Haren certainly hasn't shown he can pitch in the AL East. For once I am glad Cashman apparently made the right move. Not to mention that LA has fallen so far into the abyss that three Harens wouldn't get them to the post season this year.
I can understand why they wouldn't include him if there's a chance of him moving back to the rotation. But otherwise, yeah. It wouldn't have stopped the Yanks from getting Lee next year, anyway. Say what you want about Haren, but he's still striking out a ton of guys (10.3/9) and walking very few (1.9/9). All those hits he's given up seem to be a product of an unsustainably high BABIP. He's not giving up more line drives. He has been giving up more fly balls, which is probably why you're seeing more HRs from him. Considering that the Yanks would be using him as a #4-5 starter, I think he would have done just fine. Oh well.
I have no problem with the Yankees passing on Haren. Take a look at the splits between his first and second halves historically, and then factor in his tendency to give up the long ball. I just don't trust him on the mound against some of the offensive teams we'll have to play against in the playoffs.
For one reason or another, people are talking about Vazquez like it's a foregone conclusion that he's out after this season. I don't think that bringing him back would be a bad idea at all, especially if Pettitte calls it quits. Home Run Javy has his obvious flaws, but you aren't gonna find a better #4 starter anywhere.
Back in May, the Padres were very interested in Javy Vazquez. I'm not so sure they're willing to make a deal for him anymore though. I know that Hoyer wants to bring in a pitcher to eat up innings so Latos and Richard don't have to pitch so much. From everything I've been hearing through, the Padres want to bring in middle infielder and a power bat. Corey Hart and Miguel Tejada are supposedly their top targets.
They were supposedly moving him if they landed Lee. I am just assuming they would do the same thing if they landed Haren. Especially if Pettitte really is improving so quickly.
Haren injured in first appearance with the Angels. http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=5412468
Haren is going to win some games in the AL West, but won't help the Angels much. He would have been awful in the Bronx. Wait until Texas hits against him. This is the second-best non-move the Yankees have made this year. Keep Montero and Nova is going to look like genius in a few years. Write it down. I highly doubt Joba was standing in the way of this deal. He may not necessarily be on the block, but his status to the club is far diminished and I think if there were a valid trade opportunity involving Joba, the Yankees would ship him out immediately. I doubt the Yankees were ever even that serious in the Haren talks. And good. He can keep his MLB leading # of HRs and hits. (Actually I think the HRs he might be #2, but whatever.) As for Javy, I'll be pissed if he doesn't return to the Bronx next year. CC, Lee, Hughes, Pettitte/Burnett, Vazquez is a sick rotation. I expect that if Pettitte chooses to return, AJ will be traded after Spring Training. The only question is whether Nova will be in the rotation as well, and whose spot will he steal.
