Scherzer ranked fourth below both Jarrod Parker and Brett Anderson is surprising. Not that I don't like Jarrod and Brett, but the first hasn't pitched even one inning of professional baseball while the second one made it to high A this past season. But if the Dbacks keep both Jarrod and Brett, they might have a couple of really nice pitchers to slot behind Webb in 2010...

Other surprising thing, to me at least, was seeing Roemer and Enright in the top 10. Both were taken in the 2007 draft, and Roemer pitched 12 innings in Yakima while Enright appeared in 10 games (15 IP) across three levels in 07 (granted, he had 17k/5bb ratio in those 15 ip, with 8 hits and one unearned run). It appears BA likes them a lot more than Greg Smith or Brooks Brown, who are much closer to the majors. Then again, Smith is most likely a back of the rotation guy while Brown very likely ends up as a reliever in the majors. So BA may be looking at upside...

Regardless, the latest rumor is that the Dbacks offered 5 players for Haren, three of which were Carlos Gonzalez (#1 on this list), Brett Anderson (#3) and Emilio Bonifacio (#6). That's not a bad offer, but it appears Billy Beane doesn't know if he wants to dump a load or get off the toilet, so I doubt Haren goes anywhere. I also think Beane must've been really disappointed by how few teams came knocking for Haren. Oh well, 3rd place in the AL West beckons yet again...

If they are ranking by upside, they must not feel Scherzer will remain a starter, otherwise I can't see ranking Anderson above Scherzer. As discussed on the other board, Chris Carter would probably slot in around 6th or 7th, bumping Roemer off the list.

A few of these guys are mentioned in the latest rumor:

With Arizona willing to part with up to five talented prospects, the Yankees probably would have to add Kennedy to Hughes and at least another piece. Because the Yankees balked at including Kennedy in the Santana talks, they aren't likely to deal him to the A's, who supposedly aren't interested in Cabrera.

The Diamondbacks' package starts with pitchers Brett Anderson and Max Scherzer and includes outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who is the only one of the three to play at Triple-A so far. Because Scherzer, Arizona's first-round pick in 2006, didn't sign until May 31 of this year, he can't be traded until May 15.

Susan Slusser has the same info.

I posted this over at DBBP, so I'll just repost here

I think that Billy Beane's off season is all about an elaborate bait and switch. He is willing to talk about Haren, but the guy he really wants to move is Blanton, as he is the perfect "sell high" guy. He is never going to look as good as he does now. Basically I think Billy wants to get teams to offer everything but their first born for Haren, and then he will offer to "scale back" his demands and give them Blanton instead.

4th year for Kuroda is looking more and more like the way to go....but to be honest that scares the crap out of me too.

Also, it's notable that most of the info coming out about who the D Backs might be offering has come from the Oakland side. AFAIK, the D backs did not make a formal offer in Nashville, although I am sure all these players were discussed.

That's not a bad offer, but it appears Billy Beane doesn't know if he wants to dump a load or get off the toilet, so I doubt Haren goes anywhere. I also think Beane must've been really disappointed by how few teams came knocking for Haren. Oh well, 3rd place in the AL West beckons yet again...

If only Billy would put you on his speed dial so he can figure out what he's supposed to do. I think the A's have a better chance of challenging the Angels by keeping Haren than by collecting all the Diamondbacks assorted clutter. Also, Joe Blanton continues to be underrated around here. He's never going to win a Cy Young, but he looks like a guy who can pitch 220 to 230 above average innings a year until he's 40. I think he'll end up as a right handed David Wells when his career is over with a little less peak but more consistently durable.

I think you might be somewhat underestimating just how much pitching in Oakland helps all Oakland pitchers.

Agreed, Blanton is usually underrated--especially relative to Haren. They're the same age and neither has had any injury issues.

Here are their career stats:

ERA
Haren: 3.82
Blanton: 4.10

ERA+
Haren: 113
Blanton: 105

FIP
Haren: 4.05
Blanton: 4.06

BABIP
Haren: .300
Blanton: .300

IP/GS
Haren: 6.3
Blanton: 6.4

Haren's a little better at run prevention, but Blanton makes a bit of that up by going deeper into games. They even had similar minor league stats:

Haren: 8.8 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 0.8 HR/9
Blanton: 8.3 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, 0.5 HR/9

I'd still take Haren, but I think they're much closer than most people realize.

Fair enough, you guys make a decent case. But shouldn't you also post the major league K/9, bb/9 and hr/9 comparison?

Sure


It works out to basically equal FIPs (4.05 to 4.06).

FWIW, ZIPS

Haren 221 IP 3.91 ERA 1.226 WHIP 29/47/174 (HR/BB/K)
Blatnon 211 IP, 4.22 ERA 1.33 WHIP 21/52/121


also, of some limited interest and utility perhaps

Last 3 seasons neutralized into 2007 Arizona Diamondbacks context:

Haren
2007) 219 IP 3.41 ERA 1.279 WHIP 25-57-188 (HR-BB-K)
2006) 221 IP 4.27 ERA 1.238 WHIP 32-46-174
2005) 215 IP 3.93 ERA 1.260 WHIP 27-54-161

Blanton
2007) 225 IP 4.43 ERA 1.305 WHIP 17-42-137
2006) 193 IP 5.04 ERA 1.578 WHIP 17-59-106
2005) 199 IP 3.75 ERA 1.266 WHIP 24-69-114

Those numbers are all worse then their actual numbers, so the adjustments made by neutralizing would seem to indicate that whatever advantage might be gained for either of these pitchers by a move to the NL (in terms of run prevention) would be more than offset by the unfavorable change in home ballpark. Oaklands multi year park factor is 93, and last year it was 89. Chase field's multi year factor 106 and last year it was 205

This does seem support my doubts that Blanton would hold his value as well as Haren would with a move to Chase Field. I tend to doubt he would

From the East Valley Tribune

The Diamondbacks, who appear to be the most ardent suitor for Dan Haren, spent the weekend waiting to hear from Oakland on their most recent trade proposal.

The D-Backs’ package still is believed to include top prospects Carlos Gonzalez, Emilio Bonifacio and Brett Anderson.

Contrary to published reports, 2006 No. 1 draftee Max Scherzer is not part of the deal, major league sources said.

Scherzer, who finished his first season with a strong Arizona Fall League showing, was the D-Backs’ first pick in the 2006 draft but did not sign until May 31. Baseball rules stipulate a player cannot be traded until he has spent one year with his first team, although he could be traded as a player to be named.

An indication that Gonzalez is a key component in the deal is that he has not appeared in a game for more than a week for Zulia, his team in the Venezuelan winter league.

Gonzalez has played almost exclusively right field in the DBacks’ organization, although scouts contacted at the winter meetings in Nashville last week believed he could play center field, the most pressing outfield need for the A’s.

The A’s are bringing a group of major league players to the Valley this week for physical evaluations, according to a report in San Francisco, and A’s general manager Billy Beane said the gathering will help shape his plans.