Dan Haren Traded To Angels

Not a big Dan Haren fan, but this couldn't have been the best deal the D-Backs got.

The Angels obtained Dan Haren from the Diamondbacks in exchange the Angels gave up Joe Saunders, Patrick Corbin, Rafael Rodriguez, and a player to be named later.

Haren's stats are:

STATS	W	L	ERA	SO	WHIP
2010 Season	7	8	4.60	141	1.35
Career	86	70	3.71	1176	1.20

He's definitely a solid arm and should be a great number 2 to Jered Weaver, and will fit nicely between Jered and Ervin Santana. Do I think this will put the Angels over the top in 2010? No. But I do believe they will be a lot better in 2011, especially with Kendry coming back to anchor that offense.

Good pick up by the Angels and it will be interesting to see how Haren is coming over from the NL.

Oswalt Making Life Hard For Phillies

Roy Oswalt's contract demands could be on the verge of blowing up a potential deal that would send the Houston Astros ace to Philadelphia. Oswalt is asking the Phillies, or any team that acquires him, to guarantee his $16 million option in 2012 before he would approve a trade.

This certainly will make this deal far less likely to happen. The Phillies were happy to have Oswalt for this year and next, but beyond that they aren't so sure, and they really don't want to be guaranteeing him $16 million 3 years from now when he is already 32 years old.

Still, if the Phillies want to get back in this race then they are going to need at least another front line pitcher. That might not even solve their problems, as their hitting hasn't been all that great either. I would assume now that they will explore what it will take to get Haren (who I think is better), but that will most likely come with a very steep price.

Most reports suggest that the Cardinals are now the front runners to land Oswalt, as St. Louis is where he prefers to play next.

Phillies About To Make Moves

There are a bunch of rumors going around the MLB today, and most of them have to do with the Phillies. Basically they all have to do with the Phillies looking to unload Jayson Werth and/or grab another starting pitcher. The question is what level of pitcher are they looking for.

The hot rumor so far is that the Phillies are making a serious run at Oswalt, but they don't want to take on his contract unless they can move Werth (Oswalt is owed more than $7 million for the rest of this year and $16 million next season, and he has a $16 million option with a $2 million buyout for 2012). The other problem is that Oswalt will have to clear any trade, as he has a no trade clause. He has said he wants to stay more near Texas, but Philly is a proven winner, so I think if it came down to that he would go.

Other names that are being kicked around are Dan Haren, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ben Sheets. I'll tell you right now if the Phillies get Haren they are going to win it all.

In any of these deals (with the exception of Guthrie) the Phillies are going to have to free up some money (according to reports). Most people think that means Werth is on his way out. Werth has been linked to the Red Sox many times over the last month or so. It would be interesting what the Sox would have to give up to get him, but the price could be driven down quickly if the Phillies are able to land a starting pitcher for prospects.

Anyways, I do believe the Phillies will make a couple moves very soon, so keep an eye on this.