Question of the day: Which big name pitcher will be dealt before the trading deadline?

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Reporters from around the Tribune family tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they’re wrong. Check back throughout the day for updates.

Dan Connolly, The Baltimore Sun

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire, and there is plenty of smoke emanating from Houston concerning Roy Oswalt. But there are so many issues surrounding a deal involving Oswalt, that a better bet to be traded this month is Arizona’s Dan Haren.

In 21 starts for the Diamondbacks, Haren is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA, not exactly ace numbers. But Haren is the only major leaguer to have thrown at least 215 innings in each of the past five seasons. The highest ERA he has had in his previous three full seasons is 3.33.

He’s only 29, is signed through 2012, with an option for 2013 and has said he’d waive his partial no-trade clause for the right team.

He may be having a down year, but he is still an elite pitcher and he comes with fewer strings than Oswalt.

Updated at 12:17 p.m.

Mandy Housenick, Allentown

Several big-name pitchers will be dealt in the next week, including Ben Sheets, Jeremy Guthrie, Ted Lilly and Dan Haren.

The biggest (and priciest) catch, however, will be Houston’s Roy Oswalt. For the Phillies, Twins, Cardinals, etc., he will be worth it.

All three of those teams don’t have enough offense to put their playoff success on the current pitching staff.

Oswalt is an ace who won’t need to be for the Phillies (Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels) and Cardinals (Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright). The Twins have Francisco Liriano and a host of no-names to those outside the Twin Cities.
But, for each to do something beyond make the postseason, they need more than what their current rosters have.

The Phils really need a hitter, but Ty Wigginton isn’t what they’re looking for. The next best thing is a healthy, proven arm, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Jamie Moyer (injury), Joe Blanton (beyond the sixth inning), Kyle Kendrick and J.A. Happ.

Oswalt’s price tag is hefty, but he is a quality clubhouse guy and a workhorse on the mound.

For the Phillies, and others, he is worth it.