My guess is not based on nothing but hope.

Here’s what I think will happen. First, I think it’s in the A’s best interest to boost up his value and then give the Harden Headache to some other team. However, what will happen is that he’ll pitch just enough innings to make the A’s and AN say “maybe we shouldn’t trade him if he’s going to be this good.”

Mostly because I appear to have been wrong about his shoulder. (Score another “boo” for “armchair diagnoses from non-physicians.”) Either there really is no permanent damage in there, or whatever damage there is is stable for the time being and not causing him pain when he throws.

He’s still fragile, but there’s a huge difference between “fragile” and “actually injured.”

If Harden can stay injury free by the trade deadline, I believe he will be gone. End of July would give him another 6 weeks of starts for another team to get confidence in his health. If he is pitching well he will have trade value that Billy will take advantage of. I think the A’s realize that he will eventually breakdown again, remember he does not pitch through any discomfort at all. If he has value at deadline—-see you later Harden.