Dan Haren exercised his $10 million option for next season to return to the Dodgers and now the 34-year-old right-hander is saying he’ll probably retire if they trade him to a team other than the Angels.
There’s been some speculation that the Dodgers might look to deal Haren, but here’s what he told Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles:
My signing with the Dodgers last year and my decision to exercise my player option were based on my desire to play in Southern California near my family. I had other opportunities but at this point in my career I have no interest in playing in a city away from my family.
Haren is from California and played for the Angels from 2010-2012, so basically he either wants to play near his home or doesn’t want to play at all.
Players don’t often walk away from a guaranteed $10 million salary, especially at age 34, and Haren was a useful starter this season with a 4.02 ERA and 145/36 K/BB ratio in 186 innings.