Scratch off another would-be starter off the Mets Wish List, as Dan Haren is on his way to pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-Backs had all the prospects the Oakland A’s wanted and they had no problem moving five of their top ten prospects to get the deal done.
According to MLB.com, the Diamondbacks get RHP Dan Haren and RHP Connor Robertson from the Athletics for OF Carlos Gonzalez, LHP Brett Anderson, OF Aaron Cunningham, 1B Chris Carter, LHP Greg Smith and LHP Dana Eveland. The way it looks now, I would give the edge to Arizona, but who knows what will happen in 4-5 years. As far as I’m concerned, prospects are suspects until they prove otherwise, and Haren is clearly the jewel of this deal.
It seems like a lot, but none of the players they gave up were proven, and the D-Backs have one of the best and deepest minor league systems in baseball. This deal easily makes Arizona the favorites in the NL West. I was shocked that they did not have to part with one player from their regular 25-man roster.
Haren, 27, has won at least 14 games in each of the past three seasons for Oakland. Last year, he was 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA, he was 14-13 in 2006 and 14-12 in 2005. The right-hander is under contract for $4 million in 2008, $5.5 million in 2009 and there is a club option for 2010 for $6.75 million. He joins a rotation that includes past Cy Young winners Brandon Webb and Randy Johnson.
It makes me wonder if the Mets would be just as willing to do the same kind of trade for Santana or Bedard…
The D-Backs also made another deal sending closer Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros in exchange for infielder Chris Burke and right handed pitchers Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls. I would imagine that Qualls gets a shot at the closers job for the D-Backs. I think it’s a good deal for both teams.
So, where does this leave the Mets? Well, let’s see, Dontrelle Willis and Dan Haren are no longer options… Neither is Jake Peavy who just signed a nice extension… I really don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see.
