Reports: Yankees Coming For Dan Haren With Joba Chamberlain And Two Minor League Pitchers

Things are heating up in the Dan Haren trade sweepstakes, with some specific names being thrown around finally.

It should come as no surprise that when there's a big name available at the deadline, the Yankees would be involved.

As tweeted by AOL Fanhouse and Sports 620 KTAR, the Yanks are offering Joba Chamberlain, along with minor league pitchers Ivan Nova and Zach McAllister. The deal reportedly could be done this weekend.

Chamberlain, 24, was once a highly-touted young stud, but more recently has been known for his lack of consistency coming out of the Yankees bullpen. His 5.66 ERA this season, however, makes it hard to get too excited about him.

Nova, 23, and McAllister, 22, are both right-handers starting for Triple-A Scranton.

It remains to be seen if this is part of the trade dance designed to drive up demand from other teams like the Tigers or if this is a legit offer.

[Note by Seth Pollack, 07/23/10 6:38 PM MST ]

In addition to the potential salary savings and the potential of reviving Joba's young career (How'd that go with Dontrelle? Never mind) the prize of this deal appears to be McAllister.

Here's a scouting report on him from Brox Baseball Daily:

At 6’5″ and 230 pounds, righty Zach McAllister is an imposing figure on the mound. Yet the big right-hander  from Chillicothe, IL (just outside Peoria) is more known as a ground-ball pitcher than a strikeout artist. Drafted by the Yankees in the third round of the 2006 draft, the twenty-two year-old McAllister, the son of Arizona Diamondbacks scout Steve McAllister, has steadily progressed through the minor leagues ever year, and figures to begin 2010 in Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre’s starting rotation.

Develop McAllister has indeed, earning the praise of Yankees manager Joe Girardi for his “very good sinker” and “very good command of his fastball,” as well as the distinction by Baseball America as possessing the best control among the organization’s young pitchers. He has impressed this Spring, having thrown three hitless innings with just a walk in two ST appearances.

For 2010: McAllister’s career is clearly on the rise, providing the Yankees with considerable organizational depth among the starters as a reliable strike thrower who keeps the ball in the park and induces ground balls, and a potential fill-in option should other starters get injured or pitch ineffectively.

He should begin the year in SWB as part of a good rotation, having adjusted well to each level of the minors year-by-year. With a fastball in the low 90s, a sinker as his primary pitch that he routinely throws for strikes, and above-average off-speed pitches, McAllister has positioned himself as one of the organization’s premier young arms, one whom the Yankees would be wise to retain and develop.

[Note by Seth Pollack, 07/23/10 7:51 PM MST ]

Then again...