The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will have to cross Dan Haren off their wish lists as the Oakland A’s have moved him to the Arizona Diamondbacks in an eight-player deal.
The A’s sent Haren and RHP Connor Robertson to the D’backs for LHP’s Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith; INF Chris Carter; and OF’s Aaron Cunningham and Carlos Gonzalez.
Haren joins former NL Cy Young Winner Brandon Webb at the top of the D’Backs rotation that also includes Doug Davis and Micah Owings and Randy Johnson if he’s healthy. That is a very formidable rotation that should compete for the NL West crown.
The D’backs also made another trade as they sent their closer to Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros for three players. The D’backs received reliever Chad Qualls, RHP Juan Gutierrez and INF Chris Burke.
This is another big trade that doesn’t involve Johan Santana, who was expected to be the first pitcher moved during the off-season. It will be interesting to see whether or not the talks with Santana heat up again for the Red Sox or even the *gulp* Yankees.
