Dodgers Sign Dan Haren

Dan Haren has signed a 1 year $10 Million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2014 season.

How does Haren look in a Dodgers uniform? 

Haren pitched with the Washington Nationals last year and found a new career high in ERA at 4.67 in 169 innings pitched. Moving to a much bigger ballpark will probably benefit Haren because he found much success from 2005-2012 pitching for the Athletics, Diamondbacks, and Angels. In that period Haren held a 3.58 ERA with an average of 220 innings pitched per season. The Dodgers are getting a very valuable piece for their team given the depth in their rotation.

Haren is one of the players I like and have much faith in to have more successful seasons. In his contract rests a vesting option for 2015 that depends on if he pitches at least 180 innings. Haren has completed the task every year 2005-2011, so he is more likely to do so in 2014. In a bigger ballpark, in a weaker division, you can expect Haren to have a much better season in 2014.

Haren will join a rotation with Clayton Kershaw (1.83 ERA), Zack Greinke (2.63 ERA), Hyun-jin Ryu (3.00 ERA), and a 5th starter who will likely be either Josh Beckett or Chad Billingsly, both of which battled injuries in the past year.  One more starter may make the Dodgers the best rotation in baseball.  

Pujols and Haren

Last night in Seattle the Angels' recent additions came into effect. Dan Haren came to the Angels via trade in 2010 and of course Albert Pujols signed as a free agent in the 2011-2012 off season.

Haren posted a 3.17 ERA in 238.1 innings pitched in 2011 and in 2012 he started off rocky. After last nights game he lowered his ERA to 3.76 after a complete game shutout.

Pujols has been arguably the best player in the major leagues over the past 10 years, but he has not panned out in the first year of his mega-contract with the Angels. Things seems to finally be turning around for Pujols. In last night's game Pujols went 3-4 with a 2 run home run. In his last 10 game Pujols has 4 home runs, 13 hits and  10 RBI's. He is hitting .325 over that span and .225  on the year.

The main story of the game was Haren. Haren struck out 14 Mariners and gave up only 4 hits and 0 walks. Pujols' home runs was his 450th of his career and Haren recorded his 1500th strikeout.