Rich Harden Available?

[ksushi]

Harden is not nearly as expensive as Hudson and Mulder got. Plus, Beane has a job to keep and while Haren and Blanton have been big for them, if Harden doesn't get healthy soon enough the A's have no chance in the west. I know Harden is the kind of guy he likes to deal, but he'll wait until his contract gets a bit shorter and he is on the field a little more regularly. In the mean time, Harden has to get the A's to the playoffs this year or next before Oakland gets tired of Beane, I think. But maybe its not as pressure packed as boston.

[example1]

I think if you use these guys as an example, look no further than this afternoon's start for Mr. Hudson.

 

Mulder has been plagued by shoulder injuries.

 

Obviously Beane didn't think these guys could get it done in the AL anymore. If he's shopping Harden it means he doesn't think he can do it anymore, probably due to injury.

 

I just think Beane will always make sure he gets something from his players rather than letting them go, if he has the option. I don't think the Sox should overpay for a guy like Harden, but I could understand if another team did. He does it with closers for sure, so I'd be willing to bet that Huston Street will be the next Yankee closer in a year or two.

[example1]

Harden is not nearly as expensive as Hudson and Mulder got. Plus' date=' Beane has a job to keep and while Haren and Blanton have been big for them, if Harden doesn't get healthy soon enough the A's have no chance in the west. I know Harden is the kind of guy he likes to deal, but he'll wait until his contract gets a bit shorter and he is on the field a little more regularly. In the mean time, Harden has to get the A's to the playoffs this year or next before Oakland gets tired of Beane, I think. But maybe its not as pressure packed as boston.[/quote']

 

With his payroll I can't imagine the Oakland ownership is ready to get rid of him. He's brought a few teams to the playoffs and is regularly competing for those spots.

[CrespoBlows]

Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder both come to mind if you're talking about in-their-prime pitchers who a team in a "win now" situation might choose not to deal.

 

Are you saying that Beane always holds onto his best pitchers until their contracts expire?

 

Mulder and Hudson were both into their six years of big league service time, and were prime for massive contracts in the offseason. The arbitration figures for the two were pretty big, as well.

 

Both were big sell high candiates, too.

 

Harden isn't close to the same amount of service time as the other two.

[CrespoBlows]

Harden is not nearly as expensive as Hudson and Mulder got. Plus' date=' Beane has a job to keep and while Haren and Blanton have been big for them, if Harden doesn't get healthy soon enough the A's have no chance in the west. I know Harden is the kind of guy he likes to deal, but he'll wait until his contract gets a bit shorter and he is on the field a little more regularly. In the mean time, Harden has to get the A's to the playoffs this year or next before Oakland gets tired of Beane, I think. But maybe its not as pressure packed as boston.[/quote']

 

 

They gave him part ownership of the team.

 

They aren't getting tired of him. Trust me.

[jacksonianmarch]

Beane has been a godsend to a team that hardly spends any money.

 

And he wont sell Harden on the cheap either.

 

Wait until Harden has a healthy half season and he is dominant. Then he will bilk a team like Ny and watch as the product falters.

[example1]

Mulder and Hudson were both into their six years of big league service time, and were prime for massive contracts in the offseason. The arbitration figures for the two were pretty big, as well.

 

Both were big sell high candiates, too.

 

Harden isn't close to the same amount of service time as the other two.

 

He has 3+ years of MLB service. If Harden isn't sell high then I don't know who is. A guy who missed most of 2006 with 2 stints on the DL and who was back on the DL this year in April, yet who is drawing reasonable discussions about getting top prospects or other good players. That IS selling high.

 

I'm not saying that the deal is going to happen, simply that this is a player for whom Billy Beane could get a lot of talent. A player who is hurt but who keeps drawing interest.

 

Deal him before you have a Mark Prior on your hands.

[CrespoBlows]

He has 3+ years of MLB service. If Harden isn't sell high then I don't know who is.

 

Would you be willing to give up the kind of talent St. Louis surrendered to land Mulder? Harden is an injury prone starting pitcher, who is currently on the DL. He is not a sell high candidate.

 

A guy who missed most of 2006 with 2 stints on the DL and who was back on the DL this year in April, yet who is drawing reasonable discussions about getting top prospects or other good players. That IS selling high.

 

No, selling high on him would be allowing him to throw a few effective innings, show off his stuff, and then trade him.

 

I'm not saying that the deal is going to happen, simply that this is a player for whom Billy Beane could get a lot of talent. A player who is hurt but who keeps drawing interest.

 

We don't know what deal Beane has seen, but if it was anything similar to what he got for Mulder, I'm pretty sure that Harden would already have been traded.

[jacksonianmarch]

people seem to forget that the A's also got one of the best offensive prospects in that deal too, in Daric Barton. He is 21 and in AAA right now, having a little trouble adjusting. But he'll be in the show seen as well. He has a world of power, and a lot of people compare him to Travis Hafner.

 

I see Beane holding onto Harden through this season and sending out feelers in the offseason. That west is winnable and a healthy Harden makes them a very good team. If he comes on, and is able to give 130IP of solid starting en route to a playoff chase, he will rise significantly on the trade board. He is very similar to Beckett, and look at what they got for him. Eventually, he will be moved, and eventually Beane will get a kings ransom. That time is not now.

[ORS]

A little O/T, but Cust has given the A's some fat to chew regarding their roster. Piazza could still catch. He's horrible defensively, but how do you keep Kendall with his .188/.234/.204 line in the lineup just for defense? Johnson has made it so you don't want to play Piazza at 1B. Cust is raking, but is a butcher in the OF. If it's my call I go with the DH/C combo of Cust and Piazza.

[jacksonianmarch]

A little O/T' date=' but Cust has given the A's some fat to chew regarding their roster. Piazza could still catch. He's horrible defensively, but how do you keep Kendall with his .188/.234/.204 line in the lineup just for defense? Johnson has made it so you don't want to play Piazza at 1B. Cust is raking, but is a butcher in the OF. If it's my call I go with the DH/C combo of Cust and Piazza.[/quote']

 

agree totally. And if I remember correctly, Kendall is brutal with throwing runners out.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Beane made a great trade with Mulder, but has nothing to show for Hudson.

[jacksonianmarch]

Beane made a great trade with Mulder' date=' but has nothing to show for Hudson.[/quote']

 

the Hudson trade was a panic move IMO. He couldnt afford to take him to his final yr of arbitration and the Braves offered a hot shot lefty for him, which they had to take. Mulder had 2 yrs left until FA and Beane had more leverage.

[CrespoBlows]

the Hudson trade was a panic move IMO. He couldnt afford to take him to his final yr of arbitration and the Braves offered a hot shot lefty for him' date=' which they had to take. Mulder had 2 yrs left until FA and Beane had more leverage.[/quote']

 

They got a pretty good deal at the time.

 

Meyer was a pretty good prospect, and Cruz was coming off a fantastic year in the bullpen.