After watching the big fish go to other teams, the Cubs settled for a rent-a-Marlin at the trade deadline and acquired veteran starter Dan Haren in a trade from Miami on Friday near the trade deadline.
The Cubs sent Class AA pitcher Ivan Pineyro and AA infielder Elliot Soto to the Marlins.
Haren, 34, is a three-time All-Star who is 7-7 with a 3.42 ERA in 21 starts for the Marlins this season.
He makes $10.2 million this year, putting the Cubs’ prorated responsibility at about $3 million, just under the limit they had left in the payroll budge. The Marlins are sending $500,000 to the Cubs. The Marlins had been refusing throughout the negotiating process with teams to pick up any of that balance, despite the fact the Dodgers paid the equivalent of his entire salary when they traded him to Miami.
The Cubs came close to acquiring Haren in trade from the Angels after the 2012 season, but that deal — involving Carlos Marmol going to Anaheim — fell apart over Haren’s medical concerns.
He’s made 83 starts in 2 2/3 seasons since.
