Craig Calcaterra of Hardballtalk.com writes that Cubs’ starter Ted Lilly can block a trade to the Ray’s but not the Mets or Tigers who as we know with the Tigers are in the hunt for starting pitching. Here is what Calcaterra has to say…
The no-trade clause has been a big factor in conversations about Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren, but Ted Lilly has some veto power too: Jon Paul Morosi reports that Lilly can block a trade to the Rays, but not to the Tigers or Mets, who are also looking for starting pitching. Some day I’d love to see a big story about no-trade clauses, especially limited ones, and hear players talk about why they chose certain teams and not others. Sometimes they makes sense based on geography and stuff — Javier Vazquez famously wants to stay in the east because it’s an easier flight home to Puerto Rico — but others seem kind of random.
On the other hand it is was reported today by FOXSports.com that Diamondbacks starter Dan Haren does have a no trade list that includes both the Detroit Tiger and the Minnesota Twins. SI.com reported that the Tigers seemed to be the leaders for Haren among the teams that are interested. Now just because he has the Tigers on a no trade list doesn’t mean a deal won’t go down, it just means there might have to be more of an incentive for Haren if he were to waive his restrictions to come here. This could mean that Tigers having to pick up a club option in the final year of his contract that would ultimately pay him about $12 to $13 million dollars per year for three years. On top of this Arizona is reportedly asking for an A+ return if dealing Haren. Many media outlets in the area believe that this A+ return could include a major league ready pitcher, a reliever and a top prospect so you could say Detroit would have to part with Rick Porcello, Ryan Perry and either Andy Oliver or Jacob Turner. If this is the case Dombrowski needs to hang the phone with Arizona and say thanks but no thanks. What Arizona is asking for Haren, who is a horrible second half pitcher, is in the vicinity of what Toronto was asking for Doc Halladay last season. Dan Harren is good but he is no Halladay and is not worthy of this type of return.