I thought I'd try my hand at a post by starting with a topic I've been looking for some time. We all know the Rwins need starting pitching and we've discussed the free agents a bunch. I thought I would look at some starters that may be available via trade or by not having their options picked up.

First team up, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Angels payroll for this year is around $151 million. In 2013, the Angels have approximately $93 million committed to payroll. The Angela have two starters under contract in 2013, Jared Weaver at $16 million and CJ Wilson at $11.5 million. Zack Greinke is a free agent who would cost at least $20 million to sign. Dan Haren has a Club option for $15.5 million and Ervin Santana has a club option worth $11.5 million. I think the Angels will pay Santana the $1 million buyout. But what about Dan Haren?

The Angels still have the hideous $24 million to pay for two more years for Vernon Wells. Also, Albert Pujols salary jumps from $16 million to $23 million in 2014. So signing a pitcher aka Greinke long term could really push the payroll towards the limit, especially in 2014. If you sign Greinke and pick up Haren's option you have at least $63 million to 4 starters in 2013.

With Torii coming off the books, the Angels need another OF, 3b (Trumbo is a DH), are in need of a catcher and their bullpen is either old or ineffective and needs replacing. A Mike Napoli would cost at least $10 million, plus a decent replacement for Torii would cost $5 to $10 million and that still leaves 3B and the bullpen.

So is Haren worth $15.5 million and/or should the Angels exercise the option? Haren will turn 32 in September and has logged at least 216 innings from 2005-2011. Hitters are also hitting .281 against him this year. Even with Arte Moreno's money, I decline Haren's option and concentrate on other areas of need as the innings are catching up with him and I have to many other needs.

So, on my opinion, the starting pitchers in the offseason will include Santana and Haren. Santana is just the type of guy the Twins could try, someone coming off a bad year but still has good stuff. The 30-year old has an ERA of 5.5 this year and his K/BB ratio is less than 2 to 1 for the first time in the recent past has to be concerning. However, he was lights out in the second half of last year, and even with his horrid year, the league is still only hitting .259 against him. I think he could be had on a 2-year $10 to $12 million a year. At that price, I think the Twins should pursue.

As for Haren, I don't think he'd be in the Twins rang, but it would be good to widen the field of available starters can only help the Twins.