MLB Trade Rumors: Angels Pitcher Dan Haren Wants to Stay in Los Angeles

...but Dan Haren himself reports that is unlikely.

In an email to ESPNLosAngeles.com, Haren made his pitch to the Angels, insisting that his one-year, $15.5 million option was a low risk for the Halos, and saying playing for his hometown team was a "dream come true."

But he also said that he "loved [his] time with the Angels."  

Note the past tense.

Haren believes that he will be dealt by tonight.

The Angels have to choose today whether they will trade Haren, pick up his option or decline the option and let him walk away for nothing. The last is the least likely, and Haren believes he will be traded away. 

The likeliest option seems to be that the Angels will deal Haren elsewhere and pay a portion of his salary.  

Here's why we all think that:

Haren's situation is contractually similar to that of Ervin Santana, whom the Angels dealt to Kansas City on Wednesday. Santana was dealt for left-handed reliever Brandon Sisk, and the Angels will pay some part of Santana's $13 million option.  

The Angels are expected to put their focus, and their budget, on signing free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke, which is certainly a reasonable order for their priorities. Despite some slight blips on his career radar, in a thin year for free-agent pitchers, Greinke will command the full price of a true staff ace.

Teams should be lining up for the workhorse, Haren, who had thrown 200 innings for seven consecutive years before being sidelined this year with a back injury.  

Reported suitors for Haren's services include the Red Sox (according to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo via Twitter.) and the Cubs (according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman.) Chicago won't be a contender for anything in 2013, but nabbing Haren now could pay off handsomely for the Cubbies come the 2013 trade deadline.

Regardless of how this shakes out, it should also be noted that this is not the usual sort of contract dispute.  

We spend a lot of time breathlessly covering (and criticizing) disgruntled players demanding a trade and/or a new long-term deal, and it is only fair to turn around and appreciate a player who has delivered on his end of the deal, and is now simply saying, "I want to play where I signed to play, and play for the money I am scheduled to be paid."

Good luck, Dan Haren.  

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1393934-mlb-trade-rumors-angels-pitcher-dan-haren-wants-to-stay-in-la

Milwaukee Bucks Houston Rockets

Ducks going full 'Stormtrooper' at USC?

Oregon?s seemingly unstoppable offense has transformed it into the Pac-12 equivalent of the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/ducks_going_full_storm_trooper_at_usc/12089107

Carolina Panthers Phoenix Suns

Crew defender Chad Marshall has ankle surgery

Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall has undergone successful arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, the Major League Soccer club has announced.

The procedure, performed by Crew medical staff in Columbus, removed a bone that was causing problems. Marshall will begin rehab immediately and is expected to be sidelined for the next six to ten weeks.

Marshall started in all 24 matches he appeared in this season, recording two goals. He recently surpassed Mike Clark as the Crew's career leader in games played (223), starts (220) and overall minutes played (19,582).

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/crew_defender_chad_marshall_has_ankle_surgery/12101170

Washington Redskins Cleveland Cavaliers

Williams sisters looking ahead to 2016 Olympics

Only a few months after winning their third Olympic doubles gold medal, Serena and Venus Williams say they are eagerly awaiting the 2016 Rio Games.

Serena says ''it's our main goal. We were talking ... about how we can't wait to get to Rio. And obviously, bearing that we're both healthy, that's our goal to be there.''

Venus Williams says ''that's what we've begun preparing for.''

Last week, Serena beat Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4 to win the WTA Championships final in Istanbul.

Venus and Serena have teamed to win 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and won Olympic gold in doubles in 2000, 2008 and 2012.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/williams_sisters_looking_ahead_to_2016_olympics/12098347

Utah Jazz Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NHL Lockout: Could This Be Gary Bettman's Swan Song as NHL Commissioner?

Hockey fans are suffering through the third lockout implemented by the owners during Gary Bettman's reign as commissioner of the NHL.

The lockout has already knocked out the first two months of the season, and it threatens to knock out much more than that. The Winter Classic is likely to be next (source: GlobeandMail.com), and the longer the lockout goes, the greater the chance the entire 2012-13 season will get canceled.

Fans don't want this to happen, players don't want this to happen and perhaps some of the owners don't want this to happen.

Bettman may make sure this happens.

He runs the sport of hockey, and there's not much to run when the teams aren't playing and every game on the schedule is canceled, but Bettman wants to change the financial structure of the game (source: New York Times). He thinks the players are getting too much of the NHL's Hockey Related Revenues, and he wants to reduce their share.

Until Bettman and NHL Players' Association executive director Donald Fehr reach an agreement, the owners' lockout of the players will continue.

Currently, there is little hue and cry among the owners. The majority of them appear to be in lock step with Bettman. If they are worried about the state of their individual teams or their sport as a whole, they are not giving any public statements to that effect.

That's because Bettman does not want any public opposition during the lockout. According to the New York Times, Bettman has the power to fine any owner $1 million for divulging internal league business.

The owners appear to be under Bettman's thumb. He has made money for them since becoming commissioner in 1993. NHL revenues have grown from $400 million to $3.3 billion in the last 20 years (source: sportsnet.ca).

That has given him the kind of influence that has allowed him to lock out the players. He also imposed a lockout in 1994-95 that reduced the regular season to 48 games. The 2004-05 lockout wiped out the entire season.

The owners are perceived to have won the 2004-05 lockout in a rout. If that lockout had not gone well for the league, Bettman's power would have likely been cut or he would have been fired.

Bettman's long-term status will likely be determined by the current lockout. Even though he is up against a seasoned and formidable opponent in Fehr, it's difficult to see the owners losing this battle either.

Whether the season is lost or not, if the owners come out with another favorable deal, Bettman will not be going anywhere.

Even if the deal is viewed as a fair deal for both sides or even a slight victory for the players, it doesn't seem likely he is going to leave his position any time soon.

A major players' victory would change the landscape, but that dramatic development is seen as highly unlikely.

He has full power in the NHL, and it does not seem like there is anyone who can or is willing to challenge him.

He's likely to remain as commissioner as long as he wants.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1392879-nhl-lockout-could-this-be-gary-bettmans-swan-song-as-nhl-commissioner

Los Angeles Lakers San Francisco 49ers

Washington Redskins: Stats That Matter Headed into Week 9

Stats don't often tell the whole story, but most are relevant when put into context. Here are four stats related to the Washington Redskins that help explain why they stand where they do heading into Week 9 of the 2012 NFL regular season.

 

1.8

That's Aldrick Robinson's cumulative rating from Pro Football Focus, which makes him the only wide receiver on the Redskins roster with a positive rating. Santana Moss, Josh Morgan and Leonard Hankerson have lacked consistency, and Pierre Garcon's been out since Week 1.

With tight end Fred Davis now out for the season, too, it's no wonder Robert Griffin III's play has begun to drop off. He needs more help from his receivers, who dropped a combined seven passes last week, according to PFF.

 

84.0

That's the offensive line's overall pass-blocking efficiency rating from PFF, which ranks eighth in football. Not bad at all when you consider how often the quarterbacks were under pressure during the preseason.

The line has become progressively better and now ranks ahead of every other team in the NFC East in that metric. Last year, it was ranked 28th in the same category. It looks as though the focus can shift from the line to the secondary completely this offseason.

 

-9.3

Speaking of the secondary, that's DeAngelo Hall's coverage rating thus far, per PFF—a number that places the veteran cornerback 103rd among the 104 corners who have played at least 25 percent of their respective teams' snaps.

Hall has been beat 42 times, which is more than any other defensive player in the NFL.

 

8

That's how many fourth downs the Redskins have converted on nine attempts this season. This number might not be extremely crucial, but no other team has converted more than six fourth downs this year, and it should be noted that they've been converting 89 percent of their fourth-down gambles when we criticize their play on third down.

They're converting just 30 percent of third downs, which ranks 29th in the league. But throw in those eight fourth-down conversions and the one unsuccessful attempt, and they're actually extending drives at a 38 percent cut beyond second down, which is close to the middle of the pack.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1392224-washington-redskins-stats-that-matter-headed-into-week-9

New Orleans Saints New Orleans Hornets

Andy Murray wants harsher drug testing in tennis

Andy Murray has not always been a fan of the drug testing process in tennis, but now he wants harsher testing in the sport to get rid of those who are cheating. Murray, who won the US Open and the gold medal in men?s singles at the Olympics, was blood tested when he arrived in Paris ahead of the BNP Paribas Masters, prompting his comments. ?They came to the hotel on Saturday and it was completely random,? Murray said, per The Herald in Scotland. ?I think that?s good. We?re not used to doing that many blood tests in tennis ? I?ve probably had four or five blood tests this year ? so it?s something that?s obviously necessary.? Though Murray doesn?t think tennis has the reputation or problems of cycling, the fallout involving Lance Armstrong has him concerned about achieving a level playing field for all players. ?I?ve probably had four or five blood tests this year, but a lot more urine, so it?s obviously completely necessary when you hear things like about Armstrong. It?s a

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/andy_murray_wants_harsher_drug_testing_in_tennis/12093637

Cincinnati Bengals Indiana Pacers