» Haren From A’s to Diamondbacks in 3 Team, 12 Player Blockbuster Deal

Haren From A’s to Diamondbacks in 3 Team, 12 Player Blockbuster Deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday traded MLB’s saves leader Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros for 3 players in a separate, but connected deal under which the Oakland A’s traded their ace and 2007 All Star Game starter Dan Haren to Arizona for 6 players with the Diamondbacks getting 3 players back from the Astros in a massive 3 team, 12 player pair of transactions.

The other players who went to the A’s, the Astros and the D’backs in the dual deals, aside from reliever Chad Qualls and utility 2nd baseman/centerfielder Chris Burke, are mainly young prospects, although Baseball Prospectus raves about 4 of the 6 prospects shipped to Oakland for Haren.

However, the aspect of these deals to watch is the impact upon both the D’backs and Astros’ pitching.

Valverde’s arrival in Houston solidifies the closer role in an already potentially strong bullpen. However, Houston’s starters, after their ace Roy Oswalt, are adequate at best.

With the acquisition of Haren, the D’backs boast an awesome and imposing starting rotation; Haren, with 18 game winner Brandon Webb, young Micah Owings and lefthanders Doug Davis and 44 year old veteran Randy “Big Unit” Johnson.

In the twin deals, the Diamondbacks also bolstered their bullpen after the loss of Valverde by acquiring Astros’ set-up man Chad Qualls, thus setting up a 3 man battle for the D’backs’ closer role between Brandon Lyon, Qualls and Tony Pena.