The Cubs have acquired righty Dan Haren from the Marlins for shortstop Elliot Soto and righty Ivan Pineyro. The Marlins will also send $500K in the deal, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets.
Haren, 34, has had a nice season in Miami after several marginal campaigns over the last three years. He’s worked to a 3.42 ERA with 6.1 K/9 against 1.7 BB/9 on the year.
But those results have come in spite of a continued velocity decline (86 mph on his fastball on the year) and, more worryingly, less-than-excellent peripherals. ERA estimators see him as a 4+ ERA arm in terms of his actual contributions, with a low BABIP (.248) and high strand rate (82.6%) aiding his run prevention.
That being said, Haren has provided 129 innings already, showing the kind of durability that he did as a much younger starter. And the Cubs have reportedly been seeking not only young, controllable starting pitching but also depth pieces for the current season. With Haren set to become a free agent after the year, he certainly figures to fill some innings down the stretch.
Financials have played a big role in Haren’s market, with some teams talking with Miami asking for cash to come with him. It’s unclear as yet how that will work out in this trade.
The Marlins picked up Haren in the offseason as part of the Dee Gordon deal, with the Dodgers chipping in $10MM (the equivalent of Haren’s salary this season) in the trade. In the meantime, though, he’s begun racking up incentives through his high games started and innings tallies. If he maxes them out, as he’s on pace to do, he’d tack on another $3MM in obligations.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Wittenmyer initially reported that Haren was headed to Chicago, with Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reporting the Marlins would receive Soto and Pineyro.
Ewww. Not what I was hoping for.
Wonder if they could possibly flip him to SD?
Why would they want Haren?
To unload larger salary. I don’t know, stranger things have happened.
I don’t like this at all. Unless like someone suggested below that they are hoping to package him and some prospects to get Ross or Cashner. If this is there remedy for a back end starter, I am not thrilled.
I wouldn’t worry too much. Haren is a back-up plan. His entire contract is being paid for by the Dodgers so there’s no financial risk, and the prospects going back to Miami are unlikely to be much of anything. There’s no reason to think the Cubs aren’t still trying to make bigger moves.
This is not correct. Marlins do not have to pass on the LA money.
Yes, this. Marlins are presumably keeping the Dodgers cash. So the Cubs will be paying him the rest of the season.
Exactly. He’s a vet who should help them get more innings the rest of the way, and didn’t cost them anything that what they would probably lose in the Rule 5 draft.
Interesting to see this package. Jeng ho tseng maybe
Hopefully lower level or fillers since its two players going to Miami. Tseng is too much for Haren even with cash coming back as well.
I have a feeling the Cubs are about to make a few last-minute moves.
hmm.. wonder what they traded but why exactly didn’t they add offense??? Schwarber will not sustain his numbers and he looks like brick behind the plate so LF should have been a focus. They have the guys to pull off a cespedes or upton trade. Hell even a Cargo
Dan Haren retires.
This move, along with the Cardinals getting Broxton are exactly what we like to see here in Pittsburgh, lol.
Ugh.
at least for haren its the mid west coast
We have a beach in Chicago! Wooooooo
Low impact deal for the Cubs. Hopefully they didn’t pay a lot.
Wonder what this does for the possible CC or Ross trades??
Multiple minor leaguers? I suppose it depends on who they are, but…
I hear it’s Dan Vogelbach, Pierce Johnson, and Albert Almora
No way?? For Haren?? That’s a terrible trade.
For Haren?
I think the most surprising thing about this article is that Dan Haren is only 34. It seems like he has been around forever, I would have guessed at least 38 or 39.
i hear you- i guess that was the 04 world series he was a rookie for the cards coming out of the pen i think.
Multiple minor leaguers because the dodgers are already paying all his salary. Still probably low level guys. He is from san diego so there is a chance hes flipped.
Dodgers are not paying his salary and never were, at least directly. They sent a check for his 2015 salary to the Marlins earlier this year. Marlins are not passing that on to Cubs — or at least they don’t have to. Cubs are paying him now.
Fine with this trade. What the Cubs need most is stability at the back end. Someone who at least gives them a chance every fifth day. “Minor impact”? Major impact if you don’t have to use Wada, Wood, Beeler ect. again. 3.42 era out of a back end guy? I’ll take it. Plus his deal runs out after this year. So, opportunity to strengthen now then get someone like Price in the off season. Decent short term fix.
My completely arbitrary guess is Dan Vogelbach and Pierce Johnson is the return.
Wayyyyyyy to much. It will be two A ball players
WAY to MUCH…
I only guessed that high since the Cubs are basically not going to have to pay him. But it seems it was too high.
Anybody heard who the prospects are?
The Dodgers are kind of paying his salary…..They gave the Marlins $10 Million when they gave them Dan Haren, the Marlins are probably not sending any of that money to Chicago so we probably got a batboy and a ballboy as the 2 pieces back…..
I hope the Cubs just have to send a bucket of baseball to Miami.
Everyone so negitice, I’ll look at the positives he’s better then Beeler and richard. And he’s a vet it likely wasn’t much Theo and Jed a re ent stupid. I remember when everyone hated the arrietta trade though
It’s looking like Alcantara may be the positional player.
good for Miami
that would be something, but its been a traders mark this year where ive been a little bit surprised with the give back in almost all these deals.
I am going to guess Olt is the position player
Elliot Soto and Ivan Pineyro going to Miami.
Sweet
Soto and pineyro. I’m ok with that.
A couple of players that if ONE of them become good we will say in 3 years… Cubs blew that one. Good deal for the Cubs
Certainly not a splash but it fills a hole.
Will always root for Creighton Blue Jays. Elliot Soto, have fun with the Marlins organization.
Miami is aware that other teams have these things called prospects and they don’t HAVE to just take back minor league filler in trades, right?
seems more like they were just doing Haren a favor if he’s thinking about retiring after the season.
cubs are going to go get Kimbrel, arent they?
I thought they only wanted controllable players.. Haren is terrible.
Who’s the Cubs’ 5th starter? (I’m asking because I don’t even know). Haren’s probably better than that guy. Cubs will sign some big money FA this off-season.