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Acquiring Dan Haren might require giving up talented, but cheaper, players
Published on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
So you thought the Indians were looking for a masher to avoid those nasty slumps that brought the club down in the middle of last season.
General Manager Mark Shapiro has searched for an appropriate hitter — everyone knows that he tried to pry loose Jason Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates — but apparently he has run out of options.
If nobody wants to make a deal that Shapiro can live with, then he must look elsewhere to keep up with the Joneses — rather, the Detroit Tigers, who raised the ante in the American League Central Division by acquiring Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria.
Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge have the ''We only worry about ourselves'' speech down pat, but the reality is if a division rival makes a quantum leap forward, Shapiro has to answer, if possible. And as much as the Tribe's deep thinkers try to spin it, signing a Japanese relief pitcher and a utility infielder isn't likely to solve all the team's problems, let alone get the attention of the Tigers.
Making a deal for Dan Haren, on the other hand, would give the Indians arguably the best rotation in the AL. So if Shapiro can't acquire a hitter to outslug the Tigers, maybe he can trade for a starting pitcher who can slow down the Tigers' offense.
So the rumors on the Internet involving talks between Shapiro and Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane certainly have the ring of truth. It's no secret that Beane is willing to trade Haren, even though at 27, he is young and has a club-friendly contract. At least to most clubs.
As it concerns the Athletics, however, there probably is no such thing, at least until they move into their new stadium, Cisco Field, in Fremont, about 15 miles from San Jose. Move-in date is hoped to be the start of the 2011 season, which gives Beane three years to trade his veterans (young or old) for prospects and forge them into major-league players before the ballpark opens.
The Indians are not the only team thirsting for Haren. The Arizona Diamondbacks are believed to be offering two Triple-A players — outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and second baseman Emilio Bonfacio — plus
Double-A pitcher Brett Anderson and maybe others.
Shapiro has an edge, because he can tempt Beane with players who have been tested in the big leagues: Aaron Laffey, Josh Barfield, Ben Francisco, possibly Jeremy Sowers, even prized prospect Adam Miller, though it is far from certain that he would be part of the deal. Shapiro would like Cliff Lee to be part of a Haren trade, but Beane probably would shy away from a player who actually earns more than the big-league minimum.
Haren not only would give the Tribe a talented starter for 2008, but he also would provide protection in the event C.C. Sabathia chooses to become a free agent after next season. The Indians could control Haren for at least the next three years at a total cost of $16.25 million, which includes a $6.75 million option for 2010 that can become guaranteed if he pitches a specified number of innings.
So how would this rotation stack up with the best of the best? Sabathia, Haren, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd.
Of course, there's a catch, or at least something to caution those ready to buy playoff tickets. The past two seasons, Haren has dazzled opposing batters the first half of the schedule, only to falter after the All-Star break.
In 2006, Haren posted a 3.53 ERA in the first half, 4.91 after. During the past season (15-9, 3.07 ERA overall), he was virtually unhittable before the All-Star Game, compiling a 2.30 ERA and .205 batting average against. But in August, he was 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA, and in September his record dipped to 1-4 with a 4.82 ERA.
Even so, looking at the big picture, it's hard to hold that against Haren.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
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