Some of the names talked about most often are the obvious, Zack Greinke and Edwin Jackson, the uninspired, Paul Maholm, and now the darkhorse of the group: Dan Haren.

Just as the Royals plan for next season and their budget concerns, the Angels too have made noise sending signals that two of their current starters, Ervin Santana and Haren, may become casualties of payroll in order for them to keep this season’s Trade Deadline acquisition, Greinke. Because there seems to be a slimmer of hope upon wishes that Haren, one of the more consistent and productive pitchers over the last 6-8 seasons, might be available, that’s where Royals fans have planted their flag of who they want most to lead the starting rotation next year.

I’m not one of them.

I’ve said before I’m not entirely sure spending this offseason is the clear route to go in order to improve the 2013 Royals for a run at the AL Central crown. Mostly because there’s a worry that whomever the Royals would sign wouldn’t necessarily be a clearly recognizable upgrade over what is currently on the roster.  Sure most any player, especially pitchers, would be better than either Bruce Chen or Luke Hochevar, but if we’re talking in terms of pure impact, spending bulk sums of money is what this team needs to do.

I’ve long since held the belief that in order to win championships you need stars, difference makers, (and why the Royals absolutely did not win the Greinke trade) and the type of No.3 and No.4 starters the Royals would be in the market for wouldn’t make that much of a difference.

That concern, at least on the surface, would go away if the team were able to acquire Haren one way or another. At least on the surface.

A model of consistency throughout his career. Haren posted seven straight seasons of 200 innings pitched or more, and a SO/9 of at least 6.8. That’s pretty damn good.

However this season Haren has battled lingering issues in the one area of the body you would least like to hear your team’s favorite pitcher be dealing with (after the throwing arm, of course), his lower back.

At 32 years old Haren is no longer the sure bet to accumulate the innings or produce at the same level he’s done for so many years. Couple his age with an injury that could only figure to linger, and that’s worrisome for an organization that is already strapped for cash and has depth as an issue.

The back issues are even more of a red flag for Haren because (and this is strictly my belief) his mechanics have never been the easiest on the stress points of the pitching delivery. His pause at the top of his leg kick could aid and lead into any kind of lumbar or hip strain.

When a pitcher’s sequencing is thrown off even just a little bit, it causes other areas of the motion to fix or overcompensate to eliminate the inefficiencies caused. Haren’s pause, while it may or may not have been the cause, or may or may not have ever been an issue before, still leaves a slight crack in the kinetic chain, allowing injuries to occur. Whether it’s hip, back, or arm injuries, any unnecessary stoppage in the natural body movements can be the root cause.

So there’s a worry with Haren: age plus injury. Granted he’s better now than anyone currently in the Royals rotation, and possibly at 80% of full strength he is as well. But as the Royals currently stand, and the money it would almost certainly take to sign a pitcher like Haren with his career production, the Royals can’t afford to have him at 80%, or even worse, miss time altogether.

That isn’t to say that acquiring Haren (again, if he is even available) is a hard “no”, it’s just not necessarily the absolute “yes” fans seem to think it is.

Today, Greinke is indeed looking like he may impact the Royals search for a starting pitcher, but not quite in the way many would have expected two years ago. The Angels are reportedly interested in retaining Greinke, either by extension or a big contract when the season is over, and to make space in the payroll for him, starters Ervin Santana and Dan Haren may not have their options picked up.

Dan Haren pitches at the K. Perhaps he’d like to more often. Photo Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

If that happens, Haren would be a great fit for an improving Royals team.

Haren was one of many young pitchers to come out of Oakland after being traded from St. Louis as part of the Mark Mulder trade. In his time with the A’s, Haren surpassed 217 innings in each of three seasons and demonstrated great control and the ability to strike batters out. He was then dealt to Arizona for, among others, Carlos Gonzalez. The success continued. He put up 586.1 innings as a Diamondback before being dealt in July to Los Angeles.

Again, the performance has stayed strong. In 94 innings back in the AL in 2010, he had a 2.87 ERA. He finished seventh in Cy Young voting last season after another 200 inning season.

There are few pitchers who can boast of his consistent performance and workload.

Of course, that also means his services will come at a premium.

Haren is making $12.75 million this year and $15.5 million next year if the Angels pick up his option (which renders this conversation moot if so, but is still relevant for contract speculation). I’d imagine he would look to sign a deal that would at least average $16 million a year. For context, last December, Mark Buehrle signed a four year deal with Miami for $58 million. At the time of the signing, Buehrle was 32 years old. Haren’s 32nd birthday was on September 17. He’ll have about 500 innings less in the big leagues (as he debuted in 2003 which was Buehrle’s third full season in the majors).

Haren has better numbers than Buehrle, is slightly younger and has been more consistent. Buehrle’s ERA has ranged from 3.12 to 4.99. Haren’s has settled around the sub-4.00 territory nearly every year (in 2006, he was at 4.12; in 46 innings in 2004, he was at 4.50).

Over his career, Haren has walked less than two batters per nine innings (1.9 BB/9), and while Buehrle’s 2 BB/9 is right in that area, Haren has struck out 2.5 more batters per nine innings (7.6 vs. 5.1 K/9) than Buehrle. Their ground ball rates are similar (43.2% for Haren vs. 45.5% for Buehrle). Advantage Haren. Four years at $64 million might even be too conservative for Haren’s demands.

Fortunately (if you take the statement on good faith), David Glass has said he’s willing to open up the pocketbooks this offseason to improve the starting pitching. Dan Haren would be an improvement. If the Royals signed a second pitcher with him and opened up 2013 with Haren, Unnamed Starter, Luis Mendoza, Bruce Chen and Luke Hochevar, that’s already better than you could have dreamed of for 2012. If the Royals non-tendered Hochevar and used Jake Odorizzi, there’s talent and upside present. If they were to re-sign Jeremy Guthrie and use him somehow, that’s another pitcher who should be effective next year. And then there’s still Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino returning at some point from injury.

There could be concerns though. Haren was placed on the disabled list in July with back stiffness, but came back after 17 days and has pitched better since. He has a 4.35 ERA for the year, but since returning July 22, he’s thrown 61.2 innings with a 3.50 ERA. He’s not getting any younger, either. Over his career, Haren has made 33 or more starts every year since 2005 until this year (he’s currently at 28 and might get two more this year), so there’s no notable injury history.

Teams don’t have to have a staff full of aces to get into the playoffs or even win them. It certainly helps, though, and the odds get better with a strong starter at the top and solid arms in the middle of the rotation. There will be injuries, too, so depth is important. With what they have already and what they may have next year, the Royals are set to have a handful of capable pitchers. Adding someone like Haren would be a huge addition to a rotation that’s been without a superstar since Greinke left.

Will Hosmer have another series like he did last time the Royals played the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

When Last We Saw …

KC and LAA haven’t seen each other since the first week of the season when the Royals took two-of-three against the Angels. Los Angeles won the opening game before Kansas City took the next two, my how things have changed during the year for both franchises during the season.

Season Series …

In the season opener LA won 5-0 in a well pitched game from Bruce Chen but it was Jared Weaver who got the win as Aaron Crow took the loss. Erick Aybar hurt the boys in blue driving in three runs during the five run eighth which was the difference in game one.

The next day Kansas City touched up Dan Haren en route to a 6-3 victory evening up the series. Jeff Francoeur went 2-for-4 driving in two, Eric Hosmer batting in the third spot was 2-for-5 which he scored twice with an RBI. Not to be forgotten Luke Hochevar went 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs with four strikeouts.

Easter was the last time these teams played with the Royals beating the Angels 7-3 moving to 2-1. KC struck Ervin Santana for three runs in the highlighted by Billy Butler hitting a two-run homer that brought in Hosmer. Country Breakfast and Hos combined for six of the seven runs Kansas City scored, Jonathan Sanchez picked up the win to show how long ago this was.

4/6 – Royals 0 @ Angels 5
4/7 – Royals 6 @ Angels 3
4/8 – Royals 7 @ Angels 3

Probable Pitching Match-Ups (All Times Central):     

Friday, 9:05 pm – Bruce Chen (7-8, 5.57) v. C.J. Wilson (9-6, 2.82)
- Chen has two no-decisions in his last two starts for the Royals
- In his last start against the Mariners he left the game after 5 1/3 innings when Ned Yost might of left him in too long. Chen struckout six, allowing four runs on seven hits.
- Wilson who came over from the Rangers in the offseason will be facing the Royals for the first time this season. In his career he’s 3-0 with a 2.34 ERA against Kansas City in 13 career appearances.
Saturday, 9:05 pm – Will Smith (1-3, 7.97) v. Garrett Richards (3-1, 3.53)
- Smith who was drafted by the Angels in the seventh round of the 2008 draft will face his original team for the first time.
- Last week against the M’s he went 6 1/3 innings taking the loss giving up four runs on eight hits. He did strike out five walking just two Seattle hitters.
- Richards three wins have come against the Mariners, Diamondbacks and most recently the Tigers last week in Detroit. He went seven innings allowing three hits, striking out two with four walks.
Sunday, 2:25 pm – Luke Hochevar (6-8, 4.91) v. Jered Weaver (10-1, 2.20)
- Hochevar like Chen has no-decisions in his last two starts but the impressive stat is how he’s gone at least five innings in each of his last eight starts.
- Luke went seven innings against Minnesota on Friday night which the Royals lost 2-1 in 11 innings but struck out six without a walk allowing just a run.
- Weaver was masterful on Opening Night against KC and his only loss came on May 13 at Texas. Like Hochevar he went seven innings on Friday but picked up his 10^th win against the Rangers in Anaheim.