« Beinfest Talks Offseason Plans | Main | Visit The MLBTR Forums »

Free Agent Stock Watch: Aaron Harang

Aaron Harang may have made his last start as a member of the Reds today, writes MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.  The big righty had his outing cut short by a blister, and probably will not make the postseason roster.  The Reds are certain to choose Harang's $2MM buyout over his $12.75MM club option for 2011.  His best years were 2005-07, when the workhorse tossed 677.6 innings of 3.77 ball.  Let's assess his situation.

The Pros

• Even as he started to slip in recent years, Harang's peripherals remained respectable.  He's prone to hits and homers, but at least he gets strikeouts and limits walks typically.
• He's highly likely to sign a one-year deal.
• Harang will not cost a draft pick to sign.  In fact, he's below a Type B.

The Cons

• He's always been a flyball pitcher.  He's also so hittable that many of his frequent home runs allowed will come with runners on base.
• This year Harang's strikeout rate was his lowest since '03, while his walk rate was his highest since '04.
• Harang hasn't reached 200 innings since '07, as he's dealt with forearm and back injuries as well as an appendectomy.

The Verdict

Harang needs a big ballpark, and could join the long list of free agents hoping to rebuild value in San Diego.  He could be looking at a base salary in the $3-4MM range for 2011.

---

Lijit Search

---

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner