Former D-backs starting pitcher Dan Haren named team’s pitching strategist
Dec 6, 2016, 1:35 PM | Updated: 1:35 pm
Former Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Dan Haren is back with the organization.
#Dbacks name Dan Haren as Pitching Strategist. He will work with the front office, Major League coaching staff, and analytics department. pic.twitter.com/iqG9PL1jNh
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) December 6, 2016
Haren last pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 2015, going 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA. He was on the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2008-2010, making the All-Star game in his first two seasons in the Valley.
Haren has been known for his Twitter presence since joining in April of 2014 and he’s off to a good start since being hired.
*Will also teach young pitchers how to tweet* https://t.co/qhweUE5erY
— dan haren (@ithrow88) December 6, 2016
@ithrow88 hi 👋🏼
— Archie Bradley (@ArchieBradley7) December 6, 2016
Haren finished fifth in the National League Cy Young voting in 2009 when he posted a 3.14 ERA and went 14-10.
He was involved in two of the biggest trades the franchise has made in the past decade. In 2007, the team acquired Haren from the Oakland Athletics for a package that included All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Chris Carter, who led the National League in home runs last season. Three years later, Haren was dealt for five players, including former starters Joe Saunders and Tyler Skaggs and current D-back Patrick Corbin.
The 36-year-old is the latest of many switch-ups in the D-backs organization since general manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale were fired on Oct. 3. They replaced those two positions with Mike Hazen as the new GM and Torey Lovullo as the manager. They’ve also remodeled the staff in the dugout, most notably bringing in former Minnesota Twins manager Rod Gardenhire as bench coach.