Baseball analyst Ken Rosenthal reported that the world champion New York Yankees are the front runners to acquire pitcher Dan Haren.
Haren of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been a consistent pitcher since 2005.
Last season, he had an ERA of 3.14 and picked up 14 wins. Note the fact that the D-Backs had a losing season.
The Yankees have been looking for an above-average starter to fill in Andy Pettitte, who is injured, and to have an always-stockpiled starting rotation.
Both organizations believe that this deal can go through, but the D-Backs are asking for a high price tag on the ace pitcher.
Their proposal was for pitchers Joba Chamberlain, Ivan Nova, Zach McAllister, and a Class A player. Not only that, they must take in all of the money left on Haren's contract, which is $33 million. On the bright side, he is signed through the 2012 season, with an option for 2013.
Nova and McAllister are prized starting pitchers, but the Yankees will have time to put their farm system again, as the rotation would include Dan Haren, C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Phil Hughes.
There are questions regarding Javier Vasquez and Pettitte's future with the Yankees, but if Vasquez is let go they will have some spending money left for the 2010 free agent class.
Chamberlain can't get the job done anymore (well at least in the American League), so they might as well send him. The only problem is that the Yanks want to stick with him: well at least for a while.
If Haren does land in the Bronx this season, it will make up for most of the failure to acquire Cliff Lee.
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