Reggie Yinger
Hot Stove: Aaron Harang signs with the Padres
Sunday December 5th, 2010
Can Petco Park save Aaron Harang's career? (AP)
The San Diego Padres said "goodbye" to Adrian Gonzalez earlier today, but said "hello" to right-handed pitcher Aaron Harang
hours later. The Padres announced earlier tonight that they had signed Harang to a one-year, $3.5 million dollar contract pending a physical.
Harang, 32-years old, is a native of the San Diego area and was interested in pitching in front of his hometown at Petco Park. He spent the past eight seasons as Cincinnati Red, compiling a 75-80 record with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and a 3.19 K/BB ratio.
Despite the mediocre win-loss record, Harang has presented strong peripheral numbers over his past three seasons, which include a 7.4 strikeout per nine (K/9) ratio and a 2.6 walks per nine (BB/9) ratio. Last season, a back injury limited Harang to a career low twenty starts. During those twenty starts, Harang posted a 6-7 record with a 5.32 ERA and a 6.61 K/9 ratio.
Fantasy owners could be witnessing the "perfect storm" with Harang moving to San Diego. He's been a fly ball pitcher who's pitched in a home run haven known as Great American Ball Park, so what better place to call home than the spacious outfield of Petco? Harang features a fastball in the low-90's and slider in the low-80's that won't overpower hitters, but Harang is always in the strike zone or flirting on the outside of the plate. Harang's slide-piece is probably the best pitch in his arsenal, providing a nice biting action out of the strike zone. Of all of his pitches last season, Harang threw his slider close to 20% of the time, while opposing hitters swung 51.5% of the time, missing 18% of the time. Over six career appearances in Petco, Harang is 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, a 8.8 K/9 ratio, and has allowed just three home runs over 38 2/3 innings.
Harang, 32-years old, is a native of the San Diego area and was interested in pitching in front of his hometown at Petco Park. He spent the past eight seasons as Cincinnati Red, compiling a 75-80 record with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and a 3.19 K/BB ratio.
Despite the mediocre win-loss record, Harang has presented strong peripheral numbers over his past three seasons, which include a 7.4 strikeout per nine (K/9) ratio and a 2.6 walks per nine (BB/9) ratio. Last season, a back injury limited Harang to a career low twenty starts. During those twenty starts, Harang posted a 6-7 record with a 5.32 ERA and a 6.61 K/9 ratio.
Fantasy owners could be witnessing the "perfect storm" with Harang moving to San Diego. He's been a fly ball pitcher who's pitched in a home run haven known as Great American Ball Park, so what better place to call home than the spacious outfield of Petco? Harang features a fastball in the low-90's and slider in the low-80's that won't overpower hitters, but Harang is always in the strike zone or flirting on the outside of the plate. Harang's slide-piece is probably the best pitch in his arsenal, providing a nice biting action out of the strike zone. Of all of his pitches last season, Harang threw his slider close to 20% of the time, while opposing hitters swung 51.5% of the time, missing 18% of the time. Over six career appearances in Petco, Harang is 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, a 8.8 K/9 ratio, and has allowed just three home runs over 38 2/3 innings.
On the fantasy aspect side, owners drafted Harang in previous seasons due to his nice strikeout and low walk numbers. When he couldn't find wins and the losses started piling up, owners lost patience. Understandably, fantasy leagues are won with you guessed it..wins, so fantasy owners had to look elsewhere pitching help. In 2011, the new look Harang will be much more attractive to owners given the simple fact that half of his games will be played in Petco Park.
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