It was noted on Monday that starting pitcher Dan Haren might be holding out hoping that the Miami Marlins trade him to the San Diego Padres or Los Angeles Angels. Well, the Marlins might be looking for a fourth outfielder, so it's a fairly realistic request on Haren's behalf.
Haren was traded to Miami during the MLB Winter Meetings and the Dodgers also shipped his $10 million salary to the Marlins since the right-hander previously said he would retire if he wasn't pitching on the West Coast. Well we discovered yesterday that Haren is hoping for a trade back to the West Coast before he considers opting for retirement. However, he has yet to completely rule out pitching for Miami in 2015.
This provides for an interesting case because the Marlins have only three outfielders listed on the depth chart: Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna. They've done a lot of work this offseason to rebuild and improve their roster, but this is still a pressing need because of the lack of depth. FOX Sports Jon Morosi notes if they do decide to trade for an outfielder, it "probably would need to be someone who could back up Ozuna in centerfield." Assuming the Marlins send Haren's $10 million salary in a potential trade, it's a possibility both the Padres and Angels would be willing to add him to their starting rotations.
The Angels, at a glance, have some issues with their starters. Garrett Richards isn't expected back until May as he recovers from a torn patellar tendon; C.J. Wilson is owed $38 million over the next two seasons and had his worst year as a starter in 2014 and; Hector Santiago struggled mightily in the final month of the season and in his one postseason appearance. Haren spent three seasons with the Angels when he was traded there from Arizona in 2010 and compiled a 33-27 record with a 3.52 ERA in 78 starts. Los Angeles has Collin Cowgill who they can offer in a potential deal. The 28-year-old outfielder slashed .250/.330/.354 with 37 runs scored and 21 RBIs in 106 games this past season and can play every outfield position.
However, the Padres seem like a better match because of their excessive surplus of outfielders. San Diego just traded for Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Justin Upton, which has moved Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin and Seth Smith out of their starting roles and has pushed Will Venable and Rymer Liriano further down on the depth chart. Maybin and Venable are the team's other centerfielders and they would provide a decent veteran backup option for Miami, but it's unclear if the Marlins would be willing to take on their salaries ($15 million over next two seasons for Maybin and $4.5 million in 2015 for Venable).
The Padres just signed starters Josh Johnson and Brandon Morrow to incentive-laden one-year deals, so Haren could also provide good continuity at the back-end of the rotation if Johnson and Morrow continue to experience injury issues. Let's also not forget Haren is still a serviceable starter, he just wasn't that attractive to the Dodgers with his $10 million salary for 2015.
San Diego needs to get rid of one or more of their outfielders before the season starts, so don't be surprised if they make such a deal with Miami (or someone else) in the near future.
