Tigers' Dombrowski should take note on why the Angels traded for Haren
Written by Greg Piatt, Monday July 26 2010
The Detroit Tigers should take notice of what the Anaheim Angels gave away in acquiring Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks and what it has done for their team in the future.
It was a win for the Angels as they gave up mediocre, back-end starter Joe Saunders, Pat Corbin, another mediocre left-handed 20 year-old starter with questions of durability; Rafael Rodriguez, an up-and-down guy in the bullpen with an average fastball; and a player-to-be-named later believed to be Tyler Skaggs, a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of the 2009 draft.
The Diamondbacks were hoping to draft the 19-year-old Skaggs, a left-hander.
Where Tiger GM Dave Dombrowski should take notice is that the Angels are probably too far back to catch the Texas Rangers this year—seven games back—but Anaheim still made the trade.
The Angels have set themselves up very well for the 2011 season when they will have a healthy Kendry Morales. The Angels’ star first baseman is out for the season.
But Haren is a workhorse, good for nearly 1,100 innings over the last five years and 168 starts, with declining walk totals and increasing strikeout rates. Haren helps the Angels for the next three years (assuming they pick up his 2013 option), and Anaheim has gained long-term value through the transaction.
With the Tigers losing set-up pitcher Joel Zumaya for the season, right fielder Magglio Ordonez to a broken ankle at least until sometime in September, third baseman Brandon Inge to a broken hand also for at least another month and infielder Carlos Guillen for a couple of weeks, Detroit’s ability to compete and win the division is extremely slim—probably worse than Anaheim’s chances of overcoming Texas.
The Tigers won’t throw in the towel on 2010 because that would keep the fans out of Comerica Park’s seats for the rest of the season. But Detroit should make a trade that would set themselves up very well for the 2011 season and give fans some hope this year.
It might not come with a trade for a rental hitter since other clubs know Detroit’s dilemma and ask for the Tigers top pitching prospects Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner. Dombrowski said he wouldn’t trade those two for a rental player.
Since the Haren trade set a lower market value for an ace pitcher, the Tigers should inquire about getting Zack Greinke in a trade with Kansas City. News reports have indicated that the Royals will listen to offers for Greinke.
This would strengthen Detroit’s starting rotation for the future with probably trading only one of those pitching prospects. It would also keep the fans coming in the park.
In addition, the Tigers could also get also get outfielder Jose Guillen, who’s hitting .276 2ith 16 home runs and 59 RBI, cheaply since the Royals want to dump his salary.
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