Angels Package Joe Saunders to Land Dan Haren
The Los Angeles Angels tried very hard to look for a power hitter to replace Kendry Morales, but instead found themselves landing a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.
The Angels traded for Dan Haren, who was with a struggling Arizona Diamondbacks team. In turn, the Diamondbacks received pitcher Joe Saunders.
"At this point, being on the West Coast has a lot of value to me, being near my family and going to a ballclub that is dedicated to winning," Haren said. "I am really excited about going there and having a chance to win."
Haren was one of the top pitchers on the market in the trade-deadline frenzy. The three-time All-Star has averaged 15 wins over the past five seasons and was tied for the National League lead with 141 strikeouts.
The Angels' starting pitchers were already among the best in baseball. They lead the majors in innings pitched and are tied for third in the AL with 56 outings, in which their starters pitched for six innings or more.
"We really feel good about our starting five moving forward," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "This is a huge opportunity for us to upgrade not only now, but for the next couple of years. He's definitely a guy who has pitched in big games, has terrific stuff and he's a young veteran."
Saunders was informed of the trade while warming up for a game against the Texas Rangers when Scioscia and General Manager Tony Reagins brought him into the GM’s office. Saunders, who lives in Arizona, was very emotional when speaking to reporters.
"I thought he was going to say, 'Hey, we need you to go on three days' rest,' but Tony was in the office and, you know, it's hard," said Saunders, who spent eight years with the Angels' organization. "It's part of the game. I totally understand. It's a business. It's just tough leaving the guys."
The Diamondbacks also receive reliever Rafael Rodriguez, and 21 year-old left-hander Patrick Corbin, who has spent his time in the minors thus far.
Another player to be included, according to Arizona media outlets, is Tyler Skaggs, one of the Angels' top prospects.
The trade suits the Angels as they didn’t want to trade prospects for a rental player and Haren is under contract through 2012, so he can be a help to the team for at least a couple more years.
Haren carries a hefty salary as he is in the second year of a $44.75 million contract with a club option for a fifth year. He is due to make $12.75 million each of the next two seasons with a club option for $15.5 million in 2013. If the option is not picked up, his contract also includes a list of teams to whom he could veto any trade.
Haren, 29, is struggling this season as he is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA. The Angels think that a change to a contending team would help him pick up his game.
The trade was made to counter another trade made by the leaders of the AL West a few weeks ago when the Rangers acquired left-handed ace Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners. The Rangers have a convincing lead over the Angels in the division and the Angels are hoping to save their season and not let the Rangers begin to run away with the division.
The Angels feel they are now set in their pitching staff: "A top-of-the-rotation guy that's going to help us not just this year but years down the road," Reagins said. "The addition of Dan gives us five guys that are really talented."
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