MLB Trade Rumors wrote a piece yesterday on the Cincinnati Reds looking to pare payroll. The two logical candidates to be moved given their salary and previous availability in trade are Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. MLBTR theorizes that first baseman Joey Votto could be packaged in a deal to entice a buyer, because the club has Yonder Alonso in the minor leagues.
That got me thinking. Joey Votto, just finishing up his age-25 season, cranked 25 home runs while hitting .322/.414/.567. He’s under automatic club control through 2013. He’s definitely a great, young intriguing option at first. Perhaps Boston would be willing to take on Aaron Harang and his $12.5 million salary for 2010 in order to get Votto.
Harang, 32, is entering his final year of his contract and is coming off a 4.26 ERA in 26 starts. He’s been known as a workhorse, but has stumbled the last two seasons after two straight years of 230+ innings pitched. He’s rather prone to home runs, although that could be a product of Great American Ball Park. His walk rate is rather steady, but his strikeout rate is declining although his fastball velocity is consistent at 90 mph.
I think this is definitely a deal worth exploring. On a one-year deal, is Harang worth it to get Votto? How is he not?