Ladies and gentlemen, the ridiculous trade speculation season is officially underway.
Thanks to Los Angeles Times writer Mike DiGiovanna, fans in Anaheim and Boston are crunching numbers and arguing among themselves over an interesting trade idea. Concocted over nothing more than Angels rumors floating throughout Southern California (without any talks between teams, player sources or agents), DiGiovanna tweeted out what is, perhaps, the first crazy offseason trade idea of the hot stove season. DiGiovanna “would not be surprised” if Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto was trying to get in touch with the Red Sox regarding a trade that would involve outfielder Vernon Wells and pitcher Dan Haren. He adds that the Angels would “maybe” ask for pitcher John Lackey in return, as seen below.
Would not be surprised if #Angels GM Jerry Dipoto is trying to engage #RedSox in deal for Dan Haren AND Vernon Wells, maybe for John Lackey.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) November 1, 2012
Lackey, who just turned 34, has spent two seasons (three years) with the Sox after spending his first eight major league seasons with the Halos. He went 26-23 and posted a 5.26 ERA in his first two seasons in Boston before getting shut down for the entire 2012 season due to injury. He was 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA from 2002-09 with the Angels.
Wells, who turns 34 in December, just cranked out his second season in Anaheim, posting a .230 BA in 77 games played. The outfielder spent his first 12 years in Toronto, where he earned two Gold Gloves and was named to two All-Star Games. Wells brought in $21 million in 2012 and is expected to make $42 million over the next two seasons before becoming a free agent in 2015. Wells has played 1,601 career games and owns a lifetime batting average of .273 to go with 259 homers and 908 RBIs.
Haren is perhaps the key member of this trade idea, as the 32-year-old righty has reached double-digit victories in all eight of his seasons as a full-time starter. the former A’s and Diamondbacks ace posted a 12-13 record to go with a 4.33 ERA in 30 starts last season in Anaheim. The year before, he went 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA, finishing seventh in Cy Young voting. In 296 career games (296 starts), the three-time All Star is 119-97 with a 3.66 ERA and averages over seven strikeouts per nine innings.
