Yanks Front-Runners to Land Haren?

(Game Thread can be found here.)

(UPDATE: 12:08 AM) AOL Fanhouse's Jeff Fletcher reports than an "MLB source who spoke to Dbacks said he was told Haren deal is not close."

ESPN is also reporting that the Yankees rejected the Chamberlain, McAllister and Nova package.

(UPDATE: 9:30 PM) From John Gambadoro of Sports 620 KTAR radio in Arizona:

Joba Chamberlain, Ivan Nova and Zach McAllister looks like package being offered for Haren from Yanks - could get done over weekened.

Not sure I like giving up our setup man (regardless of his inconsistency) for a starter. The pen is weak enough as it is, they don't need to make it weaker. I guess it depends on the other pieces involved or any other moves the Yankees make.... More info to come.

(UPDATE: 6:55 PM) From Ken Rosenthal:

While talks remain fluid, there are growing indications that the Yankees are the front-runners for Diamondbacks right-hander Dan Haren.

The defending World Series champions believe they have the necessary pieces to obtain Haren, according to a major-league source.

The Diamondbacks are telling interested clubs that they are in advanced negotiations with one club, though they are not identifying that team, sources say.

Rosenthal also said that the package the Yankees would have to send to Arizona would be "heavier on pitching" than the deal they were going to make with Seattle for Cliff Lee.

(Original post)

ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting the Yankees are not only "lurking on the fringes of the Roy Oswalt talks", but that they're also "actively talking" to Arizona about right-hander Dan Haren.

Initially, Stark says, the Yankees were resisting the idea of pursuing pitchers who would remain on the payroll beyond this year, because they're fixated on pursuing Cliff Lee this winter. But they've always liked Haren. They could control him through 2013 if they pick up his option. And if the deal just involves prospects, they appear poised to jump into those talks aggressively.

But Cashman, I thought the Yankees didn't need starting pitching?

Maybe he isn't as confident in Burnett, Hughes, Vazquez and Mitre as he pretends to be.

Haren's 4.60 ERA in the NL West concerns me, especially if the asking price is high. But he has shown in the past how good he can be, not only in the NL, but in the AL against real lineups.

So, would you like to see Haren in Pinstripes? If so, what players do you think it would take to get him?

ESPN is also reporting that Zack Grienke may be on the trading block. I expect the Yankees to at least see what it would take to get last year's Cy Young award winner... Stay tuned.