On December 4th, in the midst of the Winter Meetings, the Oakland Athletics seemed poised to ship the starting pitcher for the 2007 AL All-Stars, Dan Haren, to the Arizona Diamondback. It took some time, but that rumored deal has finally come to fruition as the A’s appear headed toward a rebuilding phase the defending NL West champs seem intent on retooling for another run at the World Series in ‘08. Haren will join Brandon Webb, in what suddenly looks like a dominating rotation. Via ESPN.com:

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired All-Star pitcher Dan Haren from Oakland and traded major league saves leader Jose Valverde to Houston in separate swaps involving 12 players Friday.

Oakland also sent right-hander Connor Robertson to Arizona and received six players: left-handers Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith; infielder Chris Carter; and outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Carlos Gonzalez.

The NL West champion Diamondbacks got reliever Chad Qualls, infielder Chris Burke and right-hander Juan Gutierrez from the Astros.

As mentioned previously, some regarded Haren as a high-end consolation prize for the runner-up in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. As the Santana talks have dragged on, Oakland apparently grew weary of waiting. O’s ace Erik Bedard is also rumored to be available for the right price, however Baltimore has no intention of trading him within the division to the hated Yankees.