Dan Haren traded to D'Backs

[JoseA]

The Arizona Diamondbacks wanted ace Dan Haren without having to deplete their stable of young talent. Trading major league saves leader Jose Valverde in a separate deal solved that problem.

The NL West champions sent six players to Oakland for Haren and then got three from Houston in return for Valverde. The two deals Friday involved 12 players.

The trades were "very much connected," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said, and his club's talented farm system made everything possible.

"One of the hesitations of the Oakland deal was giving up depth, which is invaluable," Byrnes said. "I think the Houston deal brought back some of that depth."

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Very nice addition to the Diamondbacks aquring a top pitcher from last season. They got a true starting ace pitcher, and he will be vital if the D'backs expect to make another playoff run. I'm surprised they even made the postseason last year, without a dominating pitcher, really besides Webb who is also an "ace".