The Phillies announced today that Aaron Harang has been placed on the 15-day DL due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Chad Billingsley was activated in a corresponding move.
Harang, of course, has been viewed as a possible trade chip for a rebuilding Phillies club that enjoyed surprisingly strong results from the veteran right-hander through the first two months of the season. Signed to an affordable one-year, $5MM contract, Harang posted a 2.02 ERA through the and of May. While that output was never sustainable, and pitching-hungry teams wouldn’t have valued him as someone who could be reasonably counted on for such results, one has to imagine that he’s still damaged his trade value with his recent play. Over his past six starts, Harang has worked to an 8.31 ERA and allowed 48 hits (eight homers) in 34 1/3 innings with a 20-to-12 K/BB ratio.
Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Harang could miss only two starts due to the upcoming All-Star break, which would create a small window to display improved health. If he can display better control than he’s been able to with an ailing plant foot, perhaps he’d still hold some appeal to a club looking for veteran innings at the back end of its rotation. If the Phillies can’t trade him before July 31, either due to health or lack of interest, an August swap would also be a possibility.
Once again rubber amaro hanging onto veteran players run into the ground before getting what they are worth.
Who didnt see this happening. Now I give Billinglsey one more start before he goes down