Angel’s up the ante in the West by acquiring Diamondback’s ace Dan Haren

The Rangers finished up a four game series with the rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim taking 3 out of four of the games.  After the series the Angels headed home to face off against the Boston Red Sox down 7 games to the Rangers.  During the series Tommy Hunter improved to 8-0 to start the season and former President George W. Bush was in attendance to see Sunday night’s finale against the Angels.

During their time in Arlington the Angels traded veteran Joe Saunders and three other players for Dan Haren the Diamondbacks ace who has been speculated to be moved for at least a month now.  I don’t believe the Diamondbacks expect to do anything this season since they are 22 games back from the San Diego Padres in the National League West.  Last month they dismissed their manager and general manager at the same time, so I am sure Haren was ready to get out of town.  Trading Haren frees up future payroll and got some prospects in return.

Haren is no stranger to the American League or the A.L. West, since he spent 3 years with the Oakland Athletics.  He made his debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003 and was traded to the Athletics in a package for Mark Mulder.  He then spent three seasons with the Athletics before being traded to Arizona, the only difference was he was the highlight of the trade and not part of the prospect package.

During his first season (2008) in a Diamondback’s uniform Harden signed a four year extension for 44.75 millions dollars with a team option for 2013.  During the 2008 season, he was teamed up with Brandon Webb who finished second that year in the Cy Young voting.  Webb made the opening day start for the Diamondbacks in 2009 and hasn’t pitched in a game since, eventually needing shoulder surgery and has had a tough recovery.

In 217 career appearances, 208 starts Haren has a 86-70 record with a 3.71 ERA.  The Angels did pick up an above average starter, but as we all know it takes more than one player to get to the playoffs.  Remember how the A-Rod experiment, not so well with the Rangers having losing records all three seasons during his tenure in Arlington.  So even though the Angels have Haren, we have Cliff Lee and I would take him over Haren any day.