Angels rumors: Dan Haren believes he will be traded Friday

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Dan Haren believes that his time in Anaheim is coming to an end, writing to reporters that he expects to be traded before his option deadline passes Friday evening, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times:

The Angels are actively shopping Haren in hopes of netting some kind of return in a trade before he becomes a free agent. Several teams, including the Boston Red Sox, are believed to be interested...

"I have had just a bit of dialogue with the Angels about my situation, but I’m kind of getting the feeling that I'll be traded," he wrote. "I have no specifics on teams, but that's the vibe I'm getting. It's a little bit disappointing that I won't get to pick where I want to go, but I'm the one who signed on for the option year."

If a trade is to happen, many expect it will occur in the next twenty-four hours. The Angels have until 9 pm PT on Friday to pick up or buy out Haren's $15.5 million option for 2013. DiGiovanna speculates that any trade with Haren will include at least the $3.5 million in buyout money he is owed for next season, making him a $12 million acquisition.

The Angels traded right-hander Ervin Santana on Wednesday in essentially the same situation, acquiring a minor league arm from the Kansas City Royals. Given Haren's more consistent track record, he should bring the Angels a much more substantial return in a trade.