Swap Meet

Well, it looks like Wayne Krivsky may not be willing to wait around for Erik Bedard. There have been several reports coming out of Cincinnati and the Bay Area linking the Reds to much heralded Dan Haren. I can't express who much I love Krivsky's fortitude. He knows that when Johan Santana finally gets dealt it will only be a matter of time before Bedard and Haren are sent packing. The fact that the Reds are in on both Bedard and Haren tells me that Krivsky is pretty sure they are in a good position to acquire one. If one guy is moved to a team other than the Reds it leaves Wayne as the front runner for the other. This leaves a fellow like to me consider the pros and cons of each player. Dan Haren is 27 and will be rather affordable the next couple years. He started the All-Star Game in 2007, ahead of Josh Beckett and C.C. Sabathia. Haren is consistent, he pitched over 215 innings for three straight years, logged 34 starts in that span, and won 14, 14, and 15 games. My personal favorite thing about Dan Haren possibly becoming a Red would be facing Tony LaRussa. Mr. Baseball wasn't too excited about trading Haren for Mark Mulder in 2005, so it would be great to see Haren mow down that so-called lineup. Erik Bedard's biggest pro is his left arm. Bedard is also pretty young 28, but would command a pay increase sooner than Haren. Bedard faces better hitters day in day out in the A.L. East, but has never logged 200 innings. The final strike against Bedard is he is without a sweet beard, Haren on the other hand rocks a powerful mane. Bedard is still probably Krivsky's first choice, but he has put himself in great position to start 2008 with another starter.