What Do the A's Want for Dan Haren?

from MetsLifer.com

According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the Oakland Athletics have made it clear what they want from the Mets if they want to get Dan Haren.

According to Stark, Billy Beane has said that it will take Carlos Gomez and top minor league prospect, Fernando Martinez, to secure Dan Haren in a trade.

I found it a little surprising that Beane wouldn't require a pitcher in return since it appears he's wholesaling his entire starting rotation. If the Mets made this deal they'd in essence would give up their entire outfield of youth (Milledge, Gomez, Martinez).

Long term what this means is that they'll need to make a deal next year to replace Moises Alou, and if Ryan Church has a bad season and bats .230 we might need to replace him as well. I'm hopeful about Church, but I'm cautious to give up both Martinez and Gomez. I'd much rather package in a pitcher or two instead of one of them.

If the A's offer is legit it's not an unreasonable one, and you have to ask yourself is it easier to replace young outfielders or a young starting pitcher?

Still there's much left to be decided and we just have to sit and wait for the cards to be dealt.

Possible Haren Package

From Ed Ryan at Mets Fever (Network Member):

On the heals of a Newsday article which indicates that Omar will look to make a trade with the Oakland A's for Haren or Blanton......

That will force Minaya to look a little further west for a starting pitcher and once again lead him to the door of Athletics GM Billy Beane, who possesses two excellent alternatives to Santana in Dan Haren and Joe Blanton. It's a familiar spotfor Minaya, who discussed trading for two A's pitchers at last year's winter meetings in Orlando, but there's more of a sense of urgency this time around.

Several sites Hotfoot and Metsmerized online are reporting that the WFAN is reporting on a possible package that will be offered. I wasn't lisening to the WFAN so I'm not sure how it was worded. I hope Omar is able to pull off a trade for either Haren or Blanton and to be honest I don't mind if he has to over pay a bit in players......

According to WFAN, the Mets are set to make an offer of OF Carlos Gomez, SP Deolis Guerra, and SP Kevin Mulvey for Athletics SP Dan Haren and RP Kiko Calero. source Hot foot

Beane Wants Quantity For Haren Or Blanton

David Lennon at On The Mets Beat writes about tthe A's and what they want forDan Haren and Joe Blanton:

What the Mets lack in quality, they could make up in quantity, and Beane is looking for numbers. With GM Omar Minaya desperately seeking a front of the rotation starter, he may be forced to unload two major-league ready players like Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman, along with two more like Carlos Gomez and Kevin Mulvey.

Seem like too much? Get used to it. Teams like the A's and Twins will be looking to rob the big-market teams and somebody is bound to hand over the farm to them. If not the Mets, then the Yankees, Dodgers, Angels or Red Sox will. That's the reality of a paper-thin pitching market this offseason.

Beane Could Move Haren And Blanton

David Lennon at Newsday writes about the Mets pursuit of a starting pitcher and how Billy Beane might be moving both Dan Haren and Joe Blanton:

With few other places to turn for an elite starter, Minaya is at the mercy of Beane, whose demands will be steep. Unlike past years, when Beane was forced to act because of pending free agency, both Haren and Blanton aren't necessarily going anywhere.

One person familiar with the A's thinking said yesterday that if Beane does decide to trade one of the pitchers, it is very likely he could move both to completely restock for the future. That would be good news for the Mets, who will be competing with the other teams that fail to get Santana.

Haren Is The Better Deal

Joe Christensen at The Star Tribune writes about the cost of Johan Santana vs. thecost of Dan Haren:

You could back up the organization’s truck and offer three or four prospects for Oakland’s Dan Haren. No strings attached, no no-trade clause. And here’s the really good news: You would have to pay Haren just $4 million for 2008, $5.5 million for 2009, and he has a $6.75 million option for 2010.

So not only would you have a great pitcher on the cheap for three years, you’d have cost certainty, the flexibility of not being locked into a long-term deal — and you could spend cash that you would’ve had to spend on Santana to fill other needs.

Fingers Crossed

In the 2005-2006 Off Season it was Barry Zito and how much the Athletics were asking the Mets for in exchange of one year of service from the Ace Lefty. In the 2006-2007 Off Season it was Dan Haren and Rich Harden and this deal was supposed to be a lock to happen for one of these pitchers with the Mets.

The problem in those two Off Seasons, was that the Mets, particularly Omar Minaya, was reluctant to give up the two players that Billy Beane was hard pressed to obtain from the Mets (Aaron Heilman and Lastings Milledge), but this is not the case this time around.

Omar has been quoted on numerous occasions that he would have no problem trading some of his best prospects in return for a front of the rotation starter.

So the question you have to ask yourself now is,” Is Omar ready to pull the trigger or is he just flirting with other teams again”?

I for one, believe that this time Omar is fully committed to moving some precious prospects in order to meet his goal, because of the way the Mets ended the season and what better suitor than Oakland?

There is no doubt in my mind that if Omar were to press Beane hard enough, he would gladly give up Dan Haren to the Mets in return for a stable of young players, such as Aaron Heilman, Lastings Milledge, Kevin Mulvey and a lesser prospect.

The only question is how far will Omar go to achieve his goals? That’s the question that’s been resting at the back of my mind and I’m sure that all of the fans are thinking of the exact same thing.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what he does in the Winter Meetings and keep our fingers crossed that Omar Minaya comes out smelling like a rose.

Bonds An Indication Of Beane's Plan

From Ed Ryan at Mets Fever (Network Member):

ChicagoSports.com believes that the Barry Bonds indictment has ramifications for the Oakland A's. The article reports that if Beane could have landed Bonds as his DH he would have believe the team had a chance to make another run at the West title. But without Bonds, Beane can now make trades that will re-stock the small market A's, as he has been so successful at in the past. Every big name pitcher is believed to be getting the same unmatchable package from either the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers. The neurotic Mets fan in me worries we'll get squeeze out of all the big name pitchers, while my practical side says Omar will find one, relax it's early....

If general manager Billy Beane had committed to Bonds, it would have signaled an attempt to win the American League West in 2008. With Bonds out of the picture, it will be easier for Beane to decide that an old-fashioned rebuilding is in order, putting All-Star Game starter Dan Haren in play for a possible blockbuster trade .Haren (15-9, 3.07 in 34 starts) has been one of the American League's most reliable starters in the three seasons since he was acquired from St. Louis for Mark Mulder. He is under Oakland's control for three more years at the ridiculously affordable total of $16.25 million.

Could Haren Be Traded To The Mets?

Matthew Pouliot at Rotoworld writes about the off season trade candidates and where he thinks they will end up. The one that caught my eye was Dan Haren to the Mets for Lastings Milledge, Fernando Martinez and Aaron Heilman:

Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Rich Harden (Athletics) - If the A's decide to rebuild, they'll trade at least one and probably two starters, with Chad Gaudin also a possibility to go. Haren, the AL ERA leader for much of last year, would command the highest price tag. He'll earn just $16.25 million over the next three seasons. Blanton is arbitration eligible for the first time and is under control for three more years. It's likely that he'll make $3.5 million-$4 million next year. Harden is set to earn $4.5 million in 2008. There's a 2009 option on his contract worth $7 million, but if he gets hurt again, that can be declined and he'd have to settle for less in arbitration. He'll then be a free agent after 2009. Since he's pitched just 72 innings the last two years, Harden is the best bet to stay.

Possibilities

1)Haren to Mets for OF Lastings Milledge, OF Fernando Martinez & RHP Aaron Heilman
2)Haren to Dodgers for OF Matt Kemp, 3B Andy LaRoche & RHP James McDonald 3)Haren to D'Backs for 1B Conor Jackson, OF Carlos Gonzalez & RHP Dustin Nippert
4)Blanton to Mets for OF Lastings Milledge & RHP Aaron Heilman
5)Blanton to Dodgers for OF Matt Kemp
6)Blanton to Phillies for 2B Adrian Cardenas, LHP J.A. Happ & RHP Joe Bisenius
7)Harden to Red Sox for INF Jed Lowrie, RHP Michael Bowden & LHP Hunter Jones

Prediction - Haren traded to Mets, Others stay

To view the entire report use thislink (Rotoworld)