Multiple Teams Scouting Aaron Harang

Aaron Harang doesn’t seem to have a place in the Dodgers rotation, but could he fit elsewhere? (Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

Given the depth currently in camp with the Los Angeles Dodgers, there’s been an expectation for weeks that the team will look to deal one of their starting pitchers before the regular season begins. Scouts for multiple teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles, have reportedly been in attendance at recent games to take a look at one of those available options, right-hander Aaron Harang, according to D.J. Short at NBCSports’ HardballTalk.

Harang and left-handed Chris Capuano are the two Dodgers starters most likely to be dealt, as both project to be bullpen pieces for the team at this point. Harang made 31 starts this past season for Los Angeles, posting a 10-10 mark, 3.61 ERA, and 1.403 WHIP over 179.2 IP. His numbers were largely in line with his career averages, aside from an unusually high walk rate (4.3 BB/9). He’s also been largely consistent, throwing more than 161.0 IP in all but one of the past nine seasons.

Harang is due to earn $7 Million this season and his contract includes a mutual option at the same rate for next season, with a $2 Million buyout.

The actual level of interest that Milwaukee and/or Baltimore has in Harang is unknown at this point, but their presence to watch him throw doesn’t come across as surprising. Milwaukee faces a number of question marks in their rotation – from Yovani Gallardo’s groin injury to the inexperience of the rest of their projected rotation, particularly Mark Rogers and Mike Fiers – and could benefit from adding an arm like Harang. Baltimore faces similar concerns, though they seem to have more potential depth than the Brewers currently in camp.