According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, the Oakland Athletics have contacted the Red Sox about a deal involving starting pitcher Rich Harden. At only 26 years of age, Harden has been one of the most dominant young pitchers in the game. In 458 career innings, Harden has gone 31-17 with an ERA of 3.58, WHIP of 1.26 and BAA of .227. Harden will make only $2 million this year but unless the Athletics elect to pay him $7 million in 2009, he will become a free agent after next season. Harden also has multiple injury concerns and is currently on the DL for a shoulder strain. For someone’s who’s 6’1″, Harden is extremely small. He’d likely have to bulk up a bit if he intends to stay healthy in an entire major league season. As of now, he has to rely almost entirely on his shoulder and elbow to propel the ball. His injury troubles are only perpetuated by a violent motion. Harden has made the 130 innings mark in a season only once in 2004.
There isn’t any word on which Red Sox players the Athletics would want in return, but Wily Mo Pena, Jacoby Ellsbury, Craig Hansen and Clay Buchholz are likely candidates. As of now, it is unlikely that negotiations are at all developed and Harden certainly would be a risky investment. Still, he has pitched harder than 100 mph on occasion and would give the Red Sox a mind boggling collection of very good young power pitchers. The Red Sox certainly won’t be the only team that Oakland contacts about Harden. They may be testing the market in hopes of dealing him at the deadline.
