The Red Sox have fired up the hot stove, and they're apparently looking to get it cooking nice and early.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reports via Twitter that the Sox are one of the teams interested in Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher Dan Haren.
Red Sox one of several teams in on Dan Haren.
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) November 1, 2012
Haren was one of the two arms the Angels were reportedly shopping to begin the week. The other pitcher they were looking to deal was Ervin Santana, who was reportedly traded to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon.
Los Angeles has until midnight ET on Friday night to decide whether or not they want to pick up Haren's $15.5 million option. He does have a buyout of $3.5 million, which means that it would likely cost $12 million to pick up the righty.
The 32-year-old right-hander went 12-13 last season with a 4.33 ERA in 176 2/3 innings for the Angeles, his second full season in Anaheim after being acquired during the 2010 season. Haren battled back pain in 2012, and he spent almost three weeks on the disabled list in July with what was diagnosed as lower back stiffness. It was his first trip to the disabled list.
Even with that trip to the DL in 2012, Haren is averaging 220 innings per season since 2005.
Haren does have a 1-5 record with a 4.08 ERA in six career starts at Fenway Park.
