What The Angels Do With Dan Haren Will Shape Entire Off-Season

If the Angels do indeed trade Dan Haren and every indication are he will, what they get in return will really shape the team moving forward. With the trade yesterday of Ervin Santana and Zack Greinke being a free agent, there is some starting pitching depth issues in the starting rotation. There’s Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Garrett Richards and that’s it.

September 5, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren (24) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

There were reports today of a possible Haren and Vernon Wells deal for John Lackey. While Lackey will always have a place in the hearts of Halo fans, he’s coming off Tommy John Surgery and wasn’t exactly effective when he was healthy. Also, the Red Sox don’t want any part of Wells and his contract.They have to get something in return that’s going to help their rotation this year, or just keep Haren. If they lose Greinke as a free agent to let’s say the Texas Ranger,s and they trade Haren and don’t get another starter for him, with a shallow market, suddenly something that was viewed as a strength can be viewed as a weakness.

They don’t really have a top prospect they can call on to fill a rotation spot. They can’t use Peter Bourjos as a trade chip to try and acquire a pitcher because it makes Wells a starting outfielder which they don’t want to do. Hank Conger alone isn’t going to get them the starter they want.

Sometimes certain moves shape what teams are going to for their entire off-season. In the Angels case, what they do with Dan Haren will shape what the Angels will do.