Dodgers Should Prevent Haren From Costing More Than Wins
Although Haren posted a sub-.500 record, 2013 was his third consecutive season with double-digit wins and at least 30 starts.
Haren’s one-year, $10 million contract with a vesting option for 2015 figured to make him an expensive backend starter, but a necessary one given Chad Billingsley’s and Josh Beckett’s injury concerns.
Billingsley was lost for the season due to another elbow surgery and Beckett combined with Haren to fill out the rotation’s depth. That was until recently.
Beckett’s health is once again a question mark and Haren has suffered four consecutive losses. The right-hander began the season 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA through his first six starts but is 4-8 with a 5.42 ERA since that point.
Haren complained of more back discomfort than normal after his first loss on May 7 and though he hasn’t publicly raised that issue again, it may be a factor that’s affecting his performance.
The $10 million investment now resembles money spent poorly rather than a sound or lucky one. The Dodgers are averaging 4.37 runs per game when Haren starts but have just a 10-11 record when the 12-year veteran has taken the mound.
While much of the focus is on what Haren can do to turn his season around or how it may sway the Dodgers to be more aggressive at the trade deadline, a bigger issue looms.
What is Haren’s vesting option for this year so next year’s contract automatically gets picked up? How many innings? With his next start skipped it appears that the Dodgers are well aware of it!