Dan Haren

Haren used to be the model of consistency. He was essentially a lock for 33 or more starts of a mid-3.00s ERA. In fact, from 2005-2011 he posted a 3.49 ERA over 1,581 innings, but then his back issues cropped up in full force and have held him under 33 starts in each of the last three seasons. Additionally, when the back really flares up, his numbers go in the tank -- he hasn’t seen the south side of 4.00 ERA in the last three seasons, either. He still has bouts of usefulness, but the problem is that you never really know when the back will act up and send his ERA skyward via a bevy of home runs. If you spot him properly (avoid HR-friendly venues at all costs) and he maintains health, you can get plenty out of the 15-20 usable starts he will have in another 30-start season. Haren's status for 2015 is currently in question, as he requested a trade out of Miami after the Marlins acquired him from the Dodgers in December. If the Marlins don't move him, Haren has threatened to retire.

Haren's strikeout and walk rates improved last year in his return to the National League, but his inability to keep the ball in the park continued to sabotage his reliability and value. He did perform better in the second half (3.52 ERA over his last 76.2 innings), and moving over to Dodger Stadium should help his HR/9 rate a little, but he's still little more than an endgame dart.

Haren has been remarkably consistent throughout his career, but he struggled with a back injury last year and gave up a career-high 1.43 HR/9, finishing the season with a 4.33 ERA and 4.24 FIP in only 176.2 innings after topping the 200-inning mark in each of his seven previous seasons. The good news is that with the exception of the increased home-run rate Haren's peripherals remained solid, although a problematic hip and his declining velocity indicate that he could continue to struggle with the long ball. The severity of Haren's chronic hip issue is unclear, which likely limited him to a one-year deal when he signed with Washington in December. There is still some nice upside here, just know that Haren probably isn't going to pile up the high strikeout totals that we grew accustomed to before he joined the Angels. In his 2.5 years with Los Angeles, Haren's K/9 lingered around 7.3 after topping out at 8.8 when he was with the Diamondbacks in 2009.

Haren has had little trouble retiring American League hitters since being acquired by the Angels in a 2010 midseason trade. He posted a brilliant 2.87 ERA in 14 starts with the club that season, and a 3.17 ERA in 35 games, including 34 starts in 2011. That mark, in addition to his 16-10 record and 192 strikeouts, made him one of the best pitchers in the AL – and fantasy leagues – a season ago. With an improved offense behind him in 2012, Haren will remain a top starting pitcher option. Keep in mind, however, that his strikeout rate has slipped since he returned to the AL, as he had a 7.25 K/9IP last season.

The Angels acquired Haren from the Diamondbacks around the trade deadline last season, not just as a rental for a couple months but rather as an affordable No. 1 starter who is under team control through at least 2012. Haren struggled a bit with the Diamondbacks last season before the trade, but he did not disappoint with his new club, posting a 2.87 ERA and 75:25 K:BB ratio in 94 innings over 14 starts with the Angels. Haren still finished last season with double-digit victories and 200-plus strikeouts for the third straight year, so fantasy owners should focus more on Haren's statistics with the Angels than his overall numbers.

For the fourth straight season, Haren was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the first half of the season (129:16 K:BB ratio, 2.01 ERA in 130 IP) before suffering a noticeable regression after the All-Star break (94:22 K:BB ratio, 4.62 ERA in 99.1 IP) due in large part to a late-season spike in his home-run rate. Overall, there were still many positives including the highest strikeout rate in his big league career (8.75 K/9IP) and a career-low walk rate (1.49 BB/9IP). Haren continues to serve as one of the most durable starters in baseball and he's averaged more than 33 starts per season since 2005. That trend should continue as long as his chronic hip soreness isn't being caused by a more serious underlying ailment. With better run support, Haren's 2009 body of work would have been good enough to make him a 20-game winner, so he's a strong candidate for the National League Cy Young award if he maintains his recent form.

The D-Backs' rotation will be a major strength as long as their pocket rockets -- Haren and Brandon Webb -- remain healthy. Haren's first season in the National League was very productive, as he improved his strikeout rate (8.58 K/9IP) for the fourth straight season while dropping his home run rate (0.79 HR/9IP) and walk rate (1.67 BB/9IP). In addition to his effectiveness, Haren has proven to be an extremely durable commodity, averaging a full 34-game slate of starts over his first four years in the league. He'll command a hefty price tag on draft day, but Haren is in his prime and should be worth the investment given the minimal risk.

Haren saw his ERA drop just over a full run from his 2006 season despite nearly identical peripherals (26 more strikeouts and seven fewer homers in 2007 were the only differences). His post-break numbers tailed off badly (five wins, 4.15 ERA and 1.500 WHIP) but his K/9IP was strong as the year wore on. He struggled in September for the second straight year (43 hits, 22 K in 35.2 innings in 2006; 55 hits, 35 K in 37.1 innings in 2007), but that's nitpicking given his overall season. He's developed into a reliable fantasy ace and will be one of the top pitchers in the NL after being traded to Arizona from Oakland.

He had a nearly identical repeat of his 2005 season, though his ERA rose nearly half a run due to a few more longballs. His post-Break ERA of 4.91 is due largely to a poor September (43 hits, 23 runs and just 22 Ks in 35.2 innings). The list of pitchers compiling back-to-back 210+ inning, sub 1.22 WHIP seasons is pretty short. Mix in a top-10 performance in Ks and you've got a pretty reliable fantasy option.

Haren was just 2-7 entering June but finished the year on a 12–5 run. His splits before and after the All-Star break aren't as wide as the record would suggest, with the only real difference being a few walks. Without notable home/road or left/right splits, he's a good bet to continue success in 2006.

Haren struggled as a starter in the majors in 2004 but did enough as a starter in the Triple-A to earn a trip to the Pacific Coast League All-Star game. He was 2-2 with a 6.04 ERA as a starter for the Cardinals, including a June outing against the Cubs where he allowed 10 earned runs in three-plus innings. Better as a reliever, he was impressive in the post-season, allowing just two runs and eight hits in eighth-plus innings of work. However, he could win a job in the rotation with Oakland this spring after being traded in the Mark Mulder deal.

Rushed in 2003, Haren may need 15-30 starts at Triple-A to work on his secondary pitches. With the Cardinals adding Jason Marquis and Jeff Suppan, they should be able to give them to him. Haren projects as a No. 3 starter, and he's only someone you want in 2004 if he's a midseason call-up.

Haren dominated Low-A hitters last season with an 89/12 K/BB ratio and a 1.95 ERA in 101 2/3 IP. Then, he didn't fall off much at all at High-A, where he posted an 82/19 K/BB mark with a 3.62 ERA in 92 IP. Haren lacks a true strikeout pitch, so Double-A will be a good test for him. If he pitches well, he could find himself in the running for a rotation spot in 2004.