The Angels' "preference" is to decline their club options on Dan Haren and Ervin Santana in order to pursue a long-term extension with Zack Greinke, a source tells MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. The team would only look to bring back Haren or Santana if Greinke signed elsewhere, Gonzalez believes.
Haren ($15.5MM option, $3.5MM buyout) and Santana ($13MM option, $1MM buyout) both went from being likely pickup candidates to possibly expendable after their disappointing 2012 campaigns. Both men have shown better recent form, however, which could be a sign that their struggles were temporary — Haren has a 2.45 ERA over his last six starts, Santana a 2.49 ERA over his last seven.
If the Angels did decline their options, Haren and Santana would become two of the most sought-after arms on the market this winter. Haren just turned 32 but has been one of the game's better pitchers for the last several years, while Santana was very good in 2010-11, has thrown at least 175 innings in four of the last five years and may still be somewhat of a breakout candidate going into his age-30 season.
The Angels have Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and presumably Garrett Richards (who will have to replace someone) in place for next year's starting rotation. If Greinke is re-signed, that would leave the fifth starter's job open to such current in-house options as Barry Enright or Jerome Williams, though the Halos could also pursue add veteran depth this winter.
*Insert favorite team here* is a good fit for Dan Haren
but the Dodgers ARE a good fit for Dan Haren. *sigh*
Heh, you beat me to it.
The Enigma City Mystery Team will probably scoop him up, just like with all the other big FA’s.
The Blue Jays DO need some solid pitching…
No. Haren stays. It doesn’t make sense to let him go for 3.5m and pursue another pitcher. Haren is worth the extra 12… What SP can you get with Haren’s ability for $12mil in this offseason?
Pretty sure the point of the article is that they would save the money on Haren, earmarking some of it for a big Grienke extension. They wouldn’t look to go out and spend that 12 million on somebody else.
Then you have Weaver, Greinke, Wilson and who? Jerome Williams, Garret Richards? Hmm? Barry Enright?
As an Indians fan, I’m envious of your panic over having 3 top shelf arms and 2 potential rotation question marks …. we have 5 question marks in our rotation 🙁
Not Panic, but with all due respect the Angels are trying to win a championship not get to .500
Well, all teams are trying to win a championship. The Angels just happen to have an owner that actually tries to make it happen. My Indians are bad, and will be for the next few years. I am truly envious that you have an owner that wants to spend enough to put together a legitimate championship caliber team. Until the Dolan’s are out of Cleveland, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say that about the Indians 🙁
that rotation is still very good, on paper at least. big market problems I suppose.
Haren has a 3.50 era after the break. I would think he would be back, he still pitches 200 innings for 12M. You can always trade him and eat the 3.5M that you would have lost on the buyout or more, many teams would take him on $10M contract.
Haren’s fastball is done, but Santana’s best years are still in front of him. The Angels’ rotation next year should be Weaver, Greinke, Wilson, Santana and Richards.
Haren has had back trouble all year, Santana doesn’t have an excuse.
How is his fastball done? He’s still got life on it, and speed has never been his strong suit. He lost 1 mph overall, but he’s had a nagging back injury all year. Not giving him one more year is short-sighted, IMO.
Haren > Santana
That’s the thing with Santana. Every year he gave you something that made you think he is going to break out next year. Unfortunately, inconsistency is the name of the game for him.
Rather have Weav, Greinke, Wilson, Haren, Richards.
Haren is more stable, his only bloop was that rough start, but like Ryan Aguirre said, that can be credited to his back trouble. He seems to be back to his old vintage self. In my opinion, I feel safer with Haren, because even though Santana can go for a no-hitter, he is as apt to get shelled. Wilson’s already unpredictable in his own sense, don’t want to have another one in Santana.
If you think Santana is inconsistent allow me to introduce you to the entire Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation, sans Morrow… we’d gladly take him if you don’t want him.
I like Haren a lot. I think he’s a battler, a great pitcher. But his can’t throw his fastball 90 mph any more. Maybe it’s related to the back issues he’s had this year, but I think it’s more likely that his pitch assortment has worn his arm down over the years. And yeah, Santana frustrates me to no end; he looks like Garrett Anderson out there except that you get the sense that he really couldn’t care less. Still, when he’s on, he’s unhittable and I’d bet serious money on him having a much better year next year than Haren does.
*The Brewers* are a good fit for Dan Haren
Smart move by the Angels in my opinion.
Definitely think this would be a step backwards for an Angels team in a division where the other teams are making major improvements. Losing Santana would be understandable, as his inconsistent nature suggest his recent pitching form could be temporary, but Haren has been a rock, other than this year’s rough start. And the Angels farm system has few arms that can be called upon, at least for a team in the chase for the pennant. Hopefully they retain both Greinke and Haren.
Keep Haren lose Ervin, resign Greinke…Boom mind blown.
Would hurt to see Haren and even Santana leave, but Dipoto has his priorities straight. Greinke needs to be re-signed, especially considering what was given up to acquire him.
Declining Santana is a no brainer but Haren is worth 12 mil. He had one subpar year, Santana has always been inconsistent. With the lost leverage, we’ll be forced to overpay (more than we probably already would have) for Greinke and that’s assuming we even get to sign him. Letting Haren walk is stupid.
I would have to think Haren on a 1 year $12 million deal has trade value to someone.
It would be Haren on a one-year, $15.5MM deal. To the Angels it would essentially be a $12MM investment because declining his option has a $3.5MM buyout. His salary for 2013 will still be $15.5MM if the option is exercised.
Since the Angels would have to pay the $3.5 millions anyway, they could included that cash in his salary during the trade, that would make the new team only accountable for the $12 million, which would have value on the trade market.
I would like Haren or Santana in a Jays uniform next year. Hell… I’d LOVE both!
Agreed.
Dan Haren to Miami Or New York Either team
no way! they want to decline the options of the 2 guys pitching terribly in 2012 and sign the guy having a good year? insane!
Id love to See Dan Haren as a Cub, he could take a 1 year deal to up his value/be traded to a contender or The cubs could sign him to a multi-year contract. Cubs need a consistent guy in there pen, and with Haren’s Track Record he would be a great fit
I doubt Haren signs with a rebuilding team only to be traded to a team not of his choice. Despite the struggles this year for Haren, many teams are still going to be interested in him if he hits the market and he should have no problem finding a contender. He has a very impressive track record and is someone who could, at the very least, eat innings as long as he doesn’t have any back troubles.
Red sox got spending money they need to get Dan Haren, and a few other arms as well.
Haren going to San Diego makes a ton of sense for both sides. If he is willing to sign a one year deal, he could easily rebuild his status as an ace at Petco, which he could parlay into a big payday next offseason, and the Padres don’t seem to be in rebuilding mode anymore, they could contend next year with an acquisition like Haren.