Harden at the top of Cubs wish list

[David]

Even before the Z injury situation per Dave Kaplan's "sources" on the Cubs pregame just now.

 

 

Discuss.

[David]

Personally, I would love the acquisition, but I'm also a bit of a gambler. I love the potential of a Z ( ) and Harden top of the rotation, especially for the playoffs, and for the next few years.

 

I know everyone is leery of his injury history, though.

[Post Count Padder]

I'd love having him. The big qustions are if he can stay healthy and how much Beane will demand. He's screwed us over before (see: Kendall, Jason).

[erik316wttn]

I'd love having him. The big qustions are if he can stay healthy and how much Beane will demand. He's screwed us over before (see: Kendall, Jason).

 

Beane can't really demand as much as you'd think given that a stiff breeze can put Harden on the DL.

[Andrew Cashner]

Getting Rich Harden would be a lot better than getting a two month rental player in C.C. and probably wouldn't cost as much.

[CoolHandLuke]

I'd love having him. The big qustions are if he can stay healthy and how much Beane will demand. He's screwed us over before (see: Kendall, Jason).

 

 

I would hardly define getting Jerry Blevins and Rob Bowen for Kendall as screwing us.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Hill + Pie + Ceda for Harden sounds about right.

[David]

I'd love having him. The big qustions are if he can stay healthy and how much Beane will demand. He's screwed us over before (see: Kendall, Jason).

 

 

I would hardly define getting Jerry Blevins and Rob Bowen for Kendall as screwing us.

 

I think the screwing us part comes when we get Jason Kendall.

[David]

Hill + Pie + Ceda for Harden sounds about right.

 

Done.

[Banedon]

Hill + Pie + Ceda for Harden sounds about right.

 

Giving up on Hill would be harder for me than giving up on Pie, but ya gotta do it this year.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hill + Pie + Ceda for Harden sounds about right.

 

As good as Harden is, he's still only thrown 200 IP the last 3 seasons combined. I'd say either dropping Ceda or swapping Pie for Colvin would be pretty good value for him.

[VanceJergins]

Hill + Pie + Ceda for Harden sounds about right.

 

Seems like a lot for someone that's never thrown 200 innings.

[Electron Blue]

I agree with the last couple posts here -- Harden's injury history may help us as much (or more) than hurt us. It's a bargaining chip in Hendry's favor. Granted, if we land him, it becomes our accepted risk. But make no mistake, if Harden were pitching full seasons the last couple years, Beane could demand a king's ransom. but he can't.

[CubColtPacer]

I'd love having him. The big qustions are if he can stay healthy and how much Beane will demand. He's screwed us over before (see: Kendall, Jason).

 

 

I would hardly define getting Jerry Blevins and Rob Bowen for Kendall as screwing us.

 

I think the screwing us part comes when we get Jason Kendall.

 

I think Kendall was exactly what the Cubs expected last year. A .350 OBP catcher with no power and defensive problems.

 

The part where the Cubs erred was taking that over Soto, not having anything to do with Beane.

 

As I said a couple of weeks ago, in 3 deals with the club, the Cubs were the only one to get a pretty good player (Barrett).

 

So far when the two of them have hooked up the Cubs have gotten Barrett, Bynum, and Kendall. The A's have gotten Damian Miller, Koronka (sent to the Rangers instead), Bowen, and Blevins. Blevins is the only one with future potential in that list, and he's a 24 year old reliever not having a great year in AAA. I'd say the Cubs have gotten the slightly better end of the deals so far.

 

The Cubs also got a compensatory pick for Kendall. I'm not sure if the A's did for Miller or not.

[Jehrico]

I agree with the last couple posts here -- Harden's injury history may help us as much (or more) than hurt us. It's a bargaining chip in Hendry's favor. Granted, if we land him, it becomes our accepted risk. But make no mistake, if Harden were pitching full seasons the last couple years, Beane could demand a king's ransom. but he can't.

I don't know about that. He's not FA eligible and isn't raking in the dough yet. Some team will be dumb enough to drive the value on him up. I don't want him because I'm tired of hanging hopes of success on injury prone pitchers. I don't want to go into 2009 thinking we've got another ace caliber pitcher only to be strung along the whole season while waiting for him to come off of the DL. We've had enough of that this decade.

[Twiggy]

Give me Harden :)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think we're one a few teams that can take a chance on Harden. We have pitching depth, we just lack the top of rotation talent. We'd probably send one of Gallagher, Marshall, or Hill in a deal for a pitcher and we might unload Marquis if we got one. We also might send Gallagher back down if we kept Marquis. Either way, if we dealt for a pitcher like Harden (assume a Hill, Pie, Ceda deal), we'd still have Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Gallagher, Marquis, and Marshall for depth.

 

Teams with less depth might be forced to overlook Harden because of that fact.

 

I think Hill+Pie+Ceda gets it done. I'd probably start with a lower offer...something along the lines of subbing Colvin for Pie and trying to take Ceda out of it, but in the long run if you can get Harden for Hill+Pie+Ceda, I do it.

 

If Zambrano is out for the year or for an uncertain amount of time, the Cubs might need to focus on Sabathia because our depth would not be as strong and might not be able to risk Harden.

[Rob]

Here's the thing... Harden has a 7 million dollar option next season with no buyout. That's gonna make him cost some more in terms of talent.

 

I'd do Hill and Pie, plus a lower-ceiling guy like EPatt.

[inari]

I'd love to have a healthy Harden, but there's no real indication that will consistently happen. I'm not as wild about this idea as most of you seem to be.

[Mizzou]

In general, I don't really pay too close attention to the AL. As such, I don't know a lot about Rich Harden. Looking through his stats, I see that he's very good when he pitches. But that doesn't appear to happen too often.

 

What is his injury history? Is it a recurring problem, or multiple ones?

[YearofDaCubs]

I would go crazy if we somehow managed to get Harden.

[sweetpeteman]

I think that the Cubs best chance is going to be either Harden or Burnett. I don't see them having the goods to compete for C.C. while Harden and Burnett, due to their injury histories, might come cheaper. I like Harden.

[RedFlash]

I would go crazy if we somehow managed to get Harden.

 

If for nothing else, to watch the '"Harden-Wood" combo dominate NL hitters.

[CubbieBum]

I think that the Cubs best chance is going to be either Harden or Burnett. I don't see them having the goods to compete for C.C. while Harden and Burnett, due to their injury histories, might come cheaper. I like Harden.

 

I agree although that was said about the Mets with Santana. I guess never underestimate the amount a team values getting a star out of their league.

[17 Seconds]

Harden has been my first choice all season. I'd even rather have him than C.C. (which was never happening anyways)