The Cubs have acquired Dan Haren from the Marlins, according to a story first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Haren now joins his fifth organization since 2012, having followed his three-season Angels tenure with stints as a National and Dodger before joining the Marlins. That three-year stretch represented an era of mediocrity for Haren, who compiled a 30-32 win-loss record and an ERA of 4.09. In Miami, the 34-year-old veteran lowered his ERA to 3.42, giving up fewer hits despite a declining strikeout rate.
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Despite a disappointing stretch for a pitcher that made three All-Star teams with the Athletics and Diamondbacks, Haren brings value to the Cubs rotation, as Baseball-Reference pointed out Friday.
Dan Haren's 2015 WAR is higher than all but one Cubs pitcher this season http://t.co/f4Z3PVXJe2 pic.twitter.com/qHf34TxJYN
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) July 31, 2015Haren joins a pitching staff ranked sixth in baseball in team ERA and third in opponents' batting average. He slots into a starting rotation that already features Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks, all of whom have ERAs below 4.00.
The Cubs are 10 1/2 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central but only two games back in the race for the second Wild Card spot.
The Marlins will receive two minor leaguers in return, including one position player and one pitcher, MLB.com reports. According to ESPN, those prospects are Isael Soto — a Dominican centerfielder of the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers — and Ivan Pineyro, who has a 3.69 ERA in 19 starts at Double-A Tennessee this season.