The Oakland Athletics have made at least one phone call recently to gauge interest in right-hander Rich Harden, that being to the Boston Red Sox, according to one source. They have not, however, contacted some of the organizations with the top-end farm systems – the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays – so it is likely that general manager Billy Beane isn't serious about trading Harden, yet.
Harden, of course, has some of the best stuff in baseball, if only his various body parts and hinges would go along.
He was healthy and effective in spring training and was dominant in three early starts, but hasn't pitched since April 15 because of a sore shoulder. Last season, back and elbow ailments limited him to nine starts. The season before, he made 19 starts, missing the rest because of strains in his left and right sides, though not at the same time, which would have been better.
Word out of Oakland is Beane is considering a roster rebuild if the A's don't look like contenders approaching the trading deadline, meaning the phone calls won't begin and end with Harden. There also could be bats to be had in veterans Mike Piazza and Milton Bradley and spare left arms in Alan Embree and Joe Kennedy, depending on how deep Beane is willing to go.
Meantime, Harden could require another couple weeks of rest and rehab, followed by at least a month's worth of Harden-like starts in order for Beane to get something close to full value for him.
"It would be a calculated risk," one baseball executive said. "But, I would take the risk for the right price."
The call to the Red Sox could have been an effort to tempt the New York Yankees, who are not yet frantic over their starting pitching, but could be soon and, perhaps, should be.
Also some stuff in the link at the bottom of the page about Kip Wells.
