Major League Baseball

Yanks look like Haren front-runners

Published Jul. 23, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Yankees, after getting shut out on Cliff Lee, could be on the verge of trading for a different ace.

While talks remain fluid, there are growing indications that the Yankees are the front-runners for Diamondbacks right-hander Dan Haren.

The defending World Series champions believe they have the necessary pieces to obtain Haren, according to a major-league source.

The Diamondbacks are telling interested clubs that they are in advanced negotiations with one club, though they are not identifying that team, sources say.

No deal is imminent, several sources say, and other teams remain "really" involved, according to a Diamondbacks official.

The Tigers have maintained interest in Haren for some time, although one source with knowledge of their thinking doubts that they will add significant payroll at the deadline. Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said Friday night that no deal was "imminent" for his team.

The Twins, Phillies and Cardinals are among the other teams bidding for Haren. The Tigers and Twins are on Haren’s no-trade list; the Diamondbacks would need his approval to send him to one of those teams.

The Yankees earlier this month were on the verge of acquiring Lee for three minor leaguers — catcher Jesus Montero, second baseman David Adams and right-hander Zach McAllister — before the Mariners sent Lee to the Rangers instead.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if McAllister were involved in these trade talks, too. His father, Steve, is a scouting supervisor with the Diamondbacks.

The package for Haren almost certainly would be heavier on pitching; the Diamondbacks have said publicly that they want an “A-plus” package in return.

Ivan Nova, a right-hander for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, also fits the profile of the type of starter Arizona wants, one source indicated. Nova is 8-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 18 starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year.

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