With baseball’s trade deadline just 10 days away, rumors are running rampant around the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Mired in last place for much of the season, the Diamondbacks are seen as sellers hoping to add prospects and players that will return them back to contention in 2011.
Amid the center of the rumors is staff ace Dan Haren who took the mound for the D-Backs last night in their final game against the New York Mets.
The way the pitching rotation is playing out, Haren will have two more starts before the trade deadline.
The first would be Tuesday against the National League defending champion Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia.
The second start would be in New York against the Mets.
Since both are road games, this could possibly be Haren’s final start at Chase Field as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The question is, what are the odds of the Diamondbacks actually dealing their ace at the deadline?
Sports Illustrated reported Arizona is asking a steep price for Haren. Two starting pitchers and a reliever would be needed to give a team a front-line starter capable of taking them to the playoffs.
The two starters would most likely be high level Double-A or Triple-A prospects projected to be front of the rotation starters.
The reliever could either be major-league ready or very close. It would not necessarily have to be a closer; although, that would give the team an edge in trade talks.
Is the price too high?
Looking at the recent deals for Roy Halladay, Jake Peavy, Cliff Lee, and others that seems to be the standard deal.
It should be noted that Haren is not just a half-year rental like some pitchers. He is under contract through 2012 with a club option for 2013 giving a team cost certainty for two additional seasons.
At last night’s game, there were several scouts in attendance including representatives from the Phillies, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers.
So obviously there are some teams entertaining the thoughts of making a trade.
The Diamondbacks have been saying consistently that they are not planning on making a trade unless they are overwhelmed by a deal that would set them up for long-term success for several years to come.
So, while last night may have been Haren’s final start at Chase Field, it is my belief that once the calendar turns from July to August Haren will still be a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Of course I am also the one who thought the Diamondbacks should not have traded for Haren in the first place.
I would much rather have had Carlos Gonzalez playing left field for Arizona and possibly having Greg Smith or Dana Eveland pitching.
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