The Padres announced today they've declined their options on Aaron Harang, Brad Hawpe, and Chad Qualls.
Only Harang was slightly in question; he had a $5MM mutual option with a $500K buyout. The 33-year-old San Diego native posted a 3.64 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 1.05 HR/9, and 40.6% groundball rate in 170 2/3 innings. His SIERA suggests a 4.25 ERA would have been deserved.
Hawpe, 32, had a $6MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout. His season ended early due to elbow surgery. Qualls, 33, had a $6MM club option with a $1.05MM buyout.
Not that Harang is exactly a number one starter, but this is why the Padres will always falter. He is relatively cheap versus market value, and did well at Petco. Unless they plan to renegotiate, this is a medium sized blunder imo.
It was a mutual option, not a team option.
In all likelihood, they knew he was going to opt out of his half anyway.
That’s a silly stance. First off, Harang was pretty crappy away from home, were talking opponents hit to the tune of .317/.374/.504 off him. Secondly, for 5m, the Padres should have no problem finding another vet to sign, if they so choose.
When you look at xFIP, FIP, Siera, tERA, all show Harang among the worst qualifying starters in the ML.
Harang was a suprise. Padres basically said he wasn’t worth $4.5 million, but Lowe is worth $5 million to the Indians?
It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if the Padres brought back Qualls at a discounted price. Depending on what goes down with Bell, the bullpen is going to need at least one veteran down there to help out the younger guys.
definitely thought Harang would stay. Their rotation is still relatively young and he could eat up some innings for them.
That’s what I was saying, I wasn’t referring to which kind of contract it was. He was able to be had for fairly cheap money and the Paders passed. Fail, typical Padres move.
The Padres have THREE better options in house. Richard, Moseley, and Bass are better and cheaper.
Good. There are 29 other teams who could use a viable back-of-the-rotation starter who is durable. Why let him go to waste on this joke of a club.
I was thinking the same thing!
I picture playing for the Padres as hurry to the ballpark, play, and hurry out to the beaches to hit on chicks.
There is no better place in San Diego to hit chicks than the beach at 10 PM on a Friday night after a Padres games. It’s sick bro.
I think this was a great move. Yeah, it would have been cool to keep him around for one more year but what for? The team isn’t going to be a playoff contender this year unless the whole team has breakout years, which is not likely, yet!! So might as well let some of the younger guys keep pitching and get some experience so when this team is ready to compete in 2013 they are already broken in and don’t need to try and learn on the fly….Also, the Padres have a huge group of young, really good pitching prospects at AA waiting to get their chance in the big leagues and this will help them get there a little faster. I could see either Casey Kelly or Joe Wieland starting the year in the San Diego rotation and by August I wouldn’t be surprised if the other wasn’t with him along with Robbie Erlin. Unless Tim Stauffer and Clayton Richard pitch like All-Stars in the first half they will probably be the next to go. And I’m real interested to see how Corey Luebke and Anthony Bass hold up as starting pitchers over the course of an entire season next year….
Agreed, I’ll lose zero sleep over the loss of Harang. 3.64 ERA for a Petco pitcher is so-so, and that the lowest of his 10 yr career. Pads can easily attract a $5mil pitcher who is as good or better (ie, Garland in ’09), if needed. Good move Pads.
Padres 2012 rotation – Latos, Stauffer, Luebke, Moseley, Richard, Bass, and a large group of top prospects to step in when one gets hurt.
Where does a $5 million truly mediocre 5th starter fit in?
Good, cheap SP talent in the stable for the Padres on the 40 man and in the minors.
They will use the money saved for a line drive hitting corner OF.
I really wish they would bring in the fences at Petco, because tailoring the team to fit the ballpark (no power hitters) kills them on the road.
Padres had the Best AA and Champion High A team. Between those two teams and a few stars in the lowers, the pads are set to have one of the best and youngest teams.