Breaking news! The A’s have traded Dan Haren to the D’Backs but they sold off a lot of their future to get him. According to Steve Gilbert, D’Backs beat writer for MLB.com, the A’s get pitchers Brett Anderson, Greg Smith and Dana Eveland along with outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Aaron Cunningham and first baseman Chris Carter.

And the Diamondbacks are also trading Jose Valverde, last year’s major league leader in saves, for Chris Burke and Chad Qualls.

The Diamondbacks now have a legitimate 1A pitcher to go behind Brandon Webb, though I am wondering about all the prospects.

While I welcome Dan Haren (as will former A’s teammate Eric Byrnes) the trade of Valverde bothers me. Do the D’Backs really have a sound basis for thinking that Valverde won’t be anywhere near as good in 2008 as he was in 2007, or is this just a deal to get out of the likely big raise an arbitrator will give Valverde? Will the D’Backs keep Chris Burke or trade him for someone else. What would they do with this infielder if they keep him?

More later as I think it over. Meanwhile, comment here.

ByrnesBlogger1

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