GM Beane says a deal involving Haren or Blanton is possible
One man established himself as a bona fide ace by starting in the All-Star Game last season. The other, by averaging 14 wins and 215-1/3 innings over his first three seasons, has proven himself as not too shabby, either.
So it is that Dan Haren and Joe Blanton form a 1-2 punch that would be the envy of any team dreaming of contending. Add to it their price tag -- Haren is guaranteed only $9.5 million over the next two years, and Blanton is entering arbitration for the first time -- and they would seem to be a dream combo for any low-budget club.
So why in the world would Billy Beane -- the general manager of the A's, a franchise synonymous with tight purse strings -- even dream of letting them go?
"What I think is a terrible idea if you're in our market is to be in between," he said. "You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish."
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