With one week before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Minnesota Twins are reportedly chasing starting pitching.
Reports last night said the Twins were interested in Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren, who are considered to be the two best starters available in the trade market.
Both of these guys would be an upgrade over at the very least Kevin Slowey. But which one would you rather have?
Oswalt has spent his entire career with the Astros, posting a 143-81 record and a 3.22 ERA over 10 seasons in Houston. He’s having one of his best seasons this year, with an ERA of 3.12 and 117 strikeouts in 124 innings pitched. This is the best ERA he’s had in a season since 2006. Oswalt is locked up through 2011 with a club option for 2012.
Haren has struggled this year with an uncharacteristic 4.60 ERA in 21 starts so far. That would be his highest ERA since starting 14 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in his rookie season in 2003. Haren’s strikeouts remain high (141) and walks remain low (29), but he’s getting hit much harder than in previous years, to the tune of a .285 opponents’ batting average. That’s about 60 points higher than last season’s OBA. And for someone who does give up a lot of homers (tied for the NL high with 23 surrendered), all of those baserunners are making it a long season in the desert.
Oswalt turns 33 later this season, while Haren turns 30.
If the Twins determine their goal is to win now – as in, this year – then Oswalt has to be the guy. I don’t live in Phoenix and have no idea why Haren is struggling, but a 4.60 ERA in the NL is pretty concerning.
But Haren strikes me as a good bounce-back candidate for a team moving forward beyond this season. I have a hard time believing he’s just lost his mojo and won’t find it again. This guy was a pretty dominant pitcher through last season, when he had a 3.14 ERA, 223 strikeouts and a very clean little 1.00 WHIP. He signed a four-year extension for $44.75 million prior to last season, so he has two seasons under control. Plus the contract has a team option for 2013.
Problem with Oswalt is that he has a no-trade clause. He’s reportedly said he won’t play for the Twins rivals in Chicago and Detroit. Not sure how he feels about Minnesota.
My guess is that Oswalt gets traded but not to Minnesota. He sounds like he’s pretty picky about where he ends up.
So I think if the Twins get either of these two guys, it will be Haren. And for the right price, Haren is a solid addition this season and beyond if pitching coach Rick Anderson can figure out what’s wrong with him.
The Twins need to stay away from Haren. He has consistently been a HORRIBLE pitcher after the All Star break. Now with a bad first half, especially for him, I think he is on a downward slide. Oswalt is going to be expensive but any team will get more bang for their buck. He’s always been a big game pitcher and is consistently an ace. You put him in a pennant race and you will see a great pitcher. Problem with Oswalt will be his contract and the Astros asking price.
While I was all for going after Lee, I don’t know if either of these two are worth going after. If you are trying to win this year though, Oswalt is the guy to go after.
What about Fausto Carmona? He’s a pitcher with solid tools who’s having a good year for Cleveland and they’re definitely selling. He was in Jayson Stark’s list of top 5 available starting pitchers and, as was proven with the Pavano trade last year, the Indians have no qualms about trading within the division.
I like Carmona or Talbot in Cleveland, though many thought that Pavano was washed up and a joke when the Twins got him….some times a change of scenery does wonders, as does another coaches input into machanics. So Haren isn’t a stretch…most NL starters ERA translate 0.9 lower than what they would be facing 9 professional hitters in the AL, so niether Haren nor Oswalt are world beaters. Too bad the Twins cannot wrest one of the the young power arms from Frisco, though I do not see another SF/Minny trade for the forseeable future.
Too many teams think they are still in it…and the Yankees may be out there with their checkbook, and while they are out there, everyone is second to them due to their habit of overspending.
What about a trade for KC’s Zack Greinke? I don’t expect the Royals to be thrilled about trading in their own division, but if the Twins were so willing to give up top prospects for a 4 month rent-a-player in Cliff Lee, why not see what it would take to get Greinke? We all know he can pitch; he proved it last year. I think this year his numbers look less than impressive because his lack of run support and the fact he was lights-out last year. It would be tough to match his performance from last year, but his numbers are still pretty good this year.
Grienke is the KG of KC…he is destined to toil unappreciated for a long time, KC will not let him go as that would be total surrender, or the price would be so horrible that it would not be done.
KC sttod by him when he had all those anxiety issues that damn near made him and exballplayer. He is a loyal kid. When his turn comes up in free agency he will be moved.
I agree he would be the guy though.