MLB PLAYER NEWS

Haren rarin’ to go for Marlins

The Sports Xchange

February 24, 2015 at 10:20 am.

Dan Haren is itching to pitch for his new team.

The biggest question in Miami Marlins camp this spring has already been answered in a positive way for the team.

Dan Haren, who had remained silent to the media during the entirety of the off-season — even as reports circulated that he would retire rather than play far from his West Coast-based family — has finally spoken on the issue.

“The trade (from the Los Angeles Dodgers), it surprised me for sure,” Haren told the media. “I definitely considered retiring. But I think a lot of things were probably overblown.

“I’m happy to be here.”

Haren said he wanted to make sure he was committed to playing this season, first and foremost. Once he figured out that he was committed, staying with the Marlins was an easier call.

“At some point after the holidays, I let the Marlins know I was ready to go,” Haren said.

As for telling the media and the fans, Haren said he was tempted.

“There were times during the off-season that I wanted to say something,” he said. “Some things got misconstrued, and I felt like I was portrayed as snobby or stuck up. It was really kind of the opposite of that.”

Now that he is on board, what can Marlins fans expect from Haren in 2015?

Haren, 34, has won at least 10 games in each of the past 10 seasons — a model of consistency. His career ERA is solid at 3.77, and, in the past decade, he has averaged 13.6 wins per season.

Clearly, Haren, who was 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA last season, has some more left in the tank.

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