Arizona did just fine on Dan Haren trade
Winning the arms race
The old saying about needing three to five years to evaluate a trade? Now we spit some numbers into a computer and declare a winner in three to five minutes.
In a rush to condemn Arizona for the Dan Haren trade, critics faulted the Diamondbacks for failing to hold out for a better deal, as if one existed. The Diamondbacks did just fine.
They needed salary relief and pitching, lots of pitching. The complete list of teams willing to assume Haren’s $32 million and give up four pitchers: the Angels.
If the Diamondbacks wait until the winter for a better offer, maybe Haren gets injured (see: Sheets, Ben).
Arizona got Joe Saunders because, well, Ian Kennedy can’t start every game next year. The Diamondbacks won’t be favored in the National League West, but they’ll have a few good bats, and strange things can happen (see: Padres, San Diego).
Arizona got Rafael Rodriguez, a fringe reliever. The Diamondbacks might have the worst bullpen in major league history. Rodriguez might help, and he can’t hurt.
And Arizona got two pitching prospects, the keys to the deal. With Patrick Corbin and presumably Tyler Skaggs as the player to be named, the Diamondbacks’ farm system includes nine of the top 80 picks in last year’s draft. That’s not a bad way to rebuild.
If Corbin or Skaggs develops into a major league starter, the Diamondbacks win, no matter what Haren does with the Angels.
The Diamondbacks say they’ll spend the money they saved on a starter and closer, and on raises for their hitters, and shame on them if they don’t. But fleeced? Not in the real world.
Managing the arms race
It is challenge enough that the Padres are trying to win the NL West with a payroll less than half that of the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. Now the Padres plan to scratch their best pitcher from several starts in August and September.
Mat Latos threw 123 innings last season. He’s at 118 this season, and the Padres hope that managing his workload does not cost them the pennant by a game or two.
“Our best pitcher is 22 years old. It’s a hard spot,†General Manager Jed Hoyer said. “It’s our job to protect his future. He’s not going to take every turn on turn the rest of the way.â€
In his last 14 starts, Latos is 10-1 with a 1.58 earned-run average. The loss was to Roy Halladay.
The Padres juggled their rotation so Latos could face the Dodgers last week at Petco Park and this week at Dodger Stadium. They can juggle at season’s end too, since 11 of their last 17 games are against teams from outside the division. They close the season in San Francisco.
Can we get pizza now?
The toughest crowd might be the one under your own roof.
After Matt Garza of the Tampa Bay Rays gave up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings in one June start, his 8-year-old son, Matthew, said he could have done just as well. So, after he threw a no-hitter last week, Garza solicited Matthew’s opinion.
“You’re still not an All-Star,†the kid said.
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