Angels rumors: LA "aggressively" shopping Dan Haren, Ervin Santana

The Los Angeles Angels are aggressively trying to trade right-handers Dan Haren and Ervin Santana, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says it "will be an upset" if the club doesn’t complete at least one trade this week:

The team, according to major league sources, is aggressively trying to move right-handers Dan Haren and Ervin Santana before deciding on their respective — and expensive — club options for 2013.

One rival executive told Rosenthal that he believes the Angels will "trade both guys."

Entering the offseason it was anticipated that the Angels would decline the options of both Haren and Santana. Haren’s is for $15.5 million while Santana’s is $13 million. A decision regarding the options has to be made by specified deadlines; today for Santana and Friday for Haren.

The team is attempting to trade the pitchers before these deadlines rather than have them simply reach free agency. The acquiring team would then exercise the option and pay the pitchers their allotted 2013 salaries. They could also work out a multi-year extension.

Rosenthal notes that the timing is critical for the Angels and general manager Jerry Dipoto. If the pitchers walk, Dipoto will lose leverage in his negotiations with free agent starter Zack Greinke, according to Rosenthal.