Posts Tagged ‘Matt Maloney’
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Harangatang on the move?June 30th, 2008
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After watching Bronson Arroyo surrender a touchdown, two-point conversion and a field goal to the dismal Toronto Blue Jays offense Tuesday night I began to wonder if Arroyo, and his rather robust ERA, were suddenly expendable in the Queen City.
After all, with the emergence of guys like Edinson Volquez, Johny Cueto and Darryl Thompson, not to mention promising young prospects like Matt Maloney and Homer Bailey in AAA, the Reds starting rotation possesses more depth now than it ever has.
Ever.
I thought maybe, just maybe, the Reds would work out a deal shipping Arroyo to a contender looking to bolster its pitching staff for a second-half run.
Then I realized something.
No contender would want Arroyo and his astronomical ERA.
However, I was right about one thing. The aforementioned emergence of young Reds pitching prospects in recent months has made a Reds starting pitcher expendable.
Who is it, you ask?
Aaron Harang.
The Redlegs big right-hander has struggled this season, stumbling his way to a 3-10 record. That said, his ERA is still around four and a half, which is more than reasonable. The one-time ace is battle tested and is practically unhittable when on his game.
Furthermore, the dumping of his salary, coupled with the impending trade/free agent release of Ken Griffey Jr. and/or Adam Dunn, would free up badly needed funds to ensure guys like Jeff Keppinger, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Volquez, Cueto, and Thompson will be in Cincinnati for a very, very long time.