LA Angels trade for Arizona’s Dan Haren
The Los Angeles Angels couldn’t find a bat so they did the next best thing by trading for an arm.
The Angels traded for Arizona pitching ace Dan Haren on Sunday night in exchange for pitcher Joe Saunders, minor league pitchers Patrick Corbin and Rafael Rodriguez and a player to be named later.
Haren returns to the West Coast after spending three seasons with Oakland Athletics from 2005-2007.
"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. I am really excited about going there and having a chance to win,” Haren said about his move.
Haren has averaged 15 wins over the past five seasons and arguably had his best season last year pitching a career high in innings with 229.1, posting a career best 1.00 WHIP, career high in strikeouts with 223 and a career second lowest 3.14 ERA.
This season however, Haren has struggled by his own high standards with an 8-7 record and 4.60 ERA the 29-year-old is on course to allow a career high in home runs.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia thinks his team is now set to compete for the AL West.
"We really feel good about our starting five moving forward. 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,” Scioscia said.
After this season Haren will have two years left on his $44.75million contract he signed with Arizona, the deal also has a club option for the fifth year. He will make $12.5million per season for the next two years with the club option being $15.5million with a $3.5million buyout.
Haren could start as soon as Monday against the Boston Red Sox at Angels stadium.
"I believe his turn would be tomorrow, but we're going to evaluate a couple of things and get a chance to talk to him and see where he is. We've got guys who are on regular turn now, so we do have the luxury of folding him in somewhere or putting him out there to pitch tomorrow,” Scioscia said.
Tags: