Diamondbacks Sign Dan Haren To Contract Extension Through 2012

Dan Haren knows he might have been able to hold out a little longer and get a contract even bigger than the four-year, $44.75 million deal he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. But when the Diamondbacks approached Haren about an extension earlier this season, he knew what he wanted to do.

“I love it here, and I wanted to talk, and I wanted to stay here,” Haren said. “The money aside, this is the place I wanted to be, and I’m going to be here at least another four.”

Haren’s deal is worth a guaranteed $41.25 million through 2012 and includes a $15.5 million club option for 2013 with a $3.5 million buyout.

In essence, Haren was a little less than 2 1/2 years from free agency, so by signing the deal so early the club received a discount on what his value might have been on the free-agent market.

Haren, meanwhile, gets long-term security, and even if the teams picks up the 2013 option, he will have just turned 33 at the end of the deal, young enough that he conceivably could fetch another multiyear deal.

“For him, he felt it was a no-lose situation,” said Greg Landry, Haren’s agent. “If the option is picked up, he’s still young enough to get another bite of the apple at a significant number, assuming he’s healthy and everything goes according to plan.”

Since being acquired from the Oakland Athletics in an eight-player trade in December, Haren has been terrific for the Diamondbacks. Among major-league pitchers, he has allowed the fewest baserunners per nine innings (9.02), has the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.92) and has the most quality starts (19). At 12-5 with a 2.75 ERA, he is among the leading candidates for the National League’s Cy Young Award.

“He’s been everything we could have hoped for and more,” Byrnes said.

“His performance has even gone to an even higher level.”

Since 2005, Haren, 27, leads the majors with 88 quality starts and is third with 816 1/3 innings pitched. He has a 3.65 career ERA.

“For this deal, those age years are 28, 29, 30 and 31 with an option for 32,” Byrnes said.

“You look at what he’s done age 24-27, there’s a short list of guys who have accomplished that. He’s certainly one of the best pitchers in baseball.”

The contract takes the place of his previous deal, in which he was signed through 2009 with a team option for 2010. Because 2010 wasn’t a guaranteed year, his new deal essentially guarantees him an additional $39.25 million.

Haren will receive salaries of $7.5 million and $8.25 million in the first two years of the deal. He’ll get $12.75 million per year in 2011 and 2012.

“I’m not the mentality kind of guy that wants to go cash it in and just make the huge, ridiculous contract,” he said.

“I’m comfortable here. I wanted to be here.”

The deal also includes limited no-trade provision. In the first two years of the deal, Haren will select 12 teams to which he cannot be traded without his permission.

That number drops to eight teams in 2011 and 2012.

- Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic