Gammons: Harden Could be the Big Prize

And I’m talking about a Hanley Ramirez/Anibal Sanchez for Beckett/Lowell’s contract/Mota’s corpse type of deal, only not including the contract or the corpse.

When 100% healthy, everybody agrees that Harden is a top 10 pitcher in baseball. That’s not a guy you trade for less than a major, major haul. More than Haren’s deal.

Me personally, I say decline his option, keep him via arbitration or a 1 year deal, and give him a 3/21 extension next season.

Harden and Embree for Rick Porcello, Ryan Raburn + a few lesser-known, less regarded guys that the A’s scouts like.

Or..

Harden, Embree, and another major league A’s reliever for Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Shelley Duncan.

Both the Tigers and the Yankees have payrolls and owners that put them in a clear win-now mode. And Rich Harden, coupled with some relief help, could be the difference maker in their playoff chases.

In return, the A’s get a cost-controlled right-handed corner OF bat that can help, and six cost controlled years of an elite pitching prospect or two.

The downside to both of these is that the A’s would be helping a team whom they’re competing with for a wild card berth. Because of this, I think it’s more likely that Harden gets re-routed to the NL, even though (unlike Blanton) he’s good enough to actually be a huge upgrade to AL contenders.

Unfortunately, I don’t see an NL contender that’s in search of SPs who can actually offer prospects that are worthy of Rich Harden.

My best guess is that if anything happens, it’s Blanton to the Braves and/or Harden to the Yankees or Tigers. To me those are the most logical matches on paper. Obviously the A’s can sweeten both packages with the veteran relief pitching they can float – Embree, Foulke, Calero (not very valuable, I know), and maybe Street, too.

“eminent”?

they cant even last 2 innings in the majors. out of the trio of yankees “top prospect” the only one billy beane and co. will be looking at is Joba.

No, no, no, and one more time….....

: No fucking way you trade Rich Harden now!

End of discussion….......at least from my perspective.

Go A”’s!!!!!

And as a long-time Harden backer, I hope this is not the case, barring some really good return. I’ll read the other comments before I judge if the potential returns are good….

Who hope we can get something for Harden before he breaks down again.

Watching him is some of the most fun I have as a baseball fan. It’s beautiful pitching, really. But he’s proven time and again that he’ll never hold up, so if someone else wants to gamble on Harden and give us a nice return for our troubles, I’m all for it.

I hate to say that because he really is a once-in-a-generation kind of pitcher when healthy. But, as a fan, I’m committed 100 percent to rebuilding this team into a year in and year out contender for many years. Harden can bring so very much in return from a team like Boston or the Yankees or Detroit. And at most the A’s have him for what, a year and a half now? Why not continue to load up the system with guys who will be part of the greatness of the green and gold over the long term?

It’s tough because I do think the A’s best chance of competing right now and next year is to have a healthy Harden. But you just never know if it’s going to continue with his health. So deal him. But only if you get a remarkable haul of talent.

Nice diary and something that I was going to write about myself today. I’ll put this on the FP.

We need people who can help soon, not hugely promising 17 year olds who are four years away. This may be my bias, but it looks like things are coming together for this year (unless, of course, we trade/otherwise lose Harden). I’d want a young successful major leaguer and several real prospects in the AA/AAA range.

If we are still in it nearing the trade deadline why not keep him for the rest of the year and swing something in the offseason or next year. Think about how much value he will have if he stays health that long (which is a strech i know) and/or has some dominate post-season games under his belt. If he is hurt before the end of the year we are right back to the same point at this time next year so why not wait it out for this year? Without much change in his “value”. Now moving Blanton and maybe Street for a RH bat with some pop thats another story.

I have a hard time being emotional about Rich Harden either way, whether he gets traded or stays here. As far as I’m concerned, if he plays out the next 1.5 years at his current health status, the A’s have one of the best pitchers in the game at an unbelievable bargain price. If he gets traded, Beane will make sure that he extracts a nice prospect package from the acquiring team.

As far as Beane and the team is concerned, it’s a win-win proposition at this point. I guess the emotion comes into play when you think, “Oh man, if we keep Rich we can compete THIS year, so let’s not even field trade offers for him.” But in reality, Beane will keep working the phones, and only pull the trigger when he gets what he wants. If he doesn’t, he’ll keep Rich and his considerable talent in the fold, a la Blanton and Street this season.

All this wrangling for a guy who could go on the DL for the rest of the season at any point? No need to stress guys. Whether Rich stays or Rich goes, the A’s will be in good shape either way.

Harden and Eric Chavez for David Wright

regardless of the consequences of getting less later on, or, if he blows up again in August and retires. I think the gamble is worth it to have him in the post-season, 2008,if the A’s make it that far.
With Harden and Duch’sr, the A’s could sail through the ALDS, even if it’s Boston. Could. Not “should”. Those two pitchers give us our best chance.
If the A’s are sitting a game or so above or below .500 by July 31, then the discussion about trades covers just about everyone on the roster IMO. Boston and Tampa Bay might be tied for the best record in MLB, six or seven games above everyone else, in which case…

Harden for Dan Johnson!
(jk)!

I know Billy Beane declared at the beginning of the season that this was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but then he contradicts himself and brings in Veteran players like Thomas and Sweeney who without a doubt take playing time from the little Sweeney, Buck and others. I think Beane needs to firmly declare what is going on with this team- either trade Harden now and bring in more top prospects to truly rebuid or keep this gem and shoot for the playoffs THIS year. I think trying to do both only results in a sporadic, confused fanbase and possibly confused team.

-Ballin

... but I don’t want to work right now, so I’ll state it again:

We as fans are letting recent history color our outlook too much.

I myself argued earlier this season (I believe after Harden hit the DL) when someone was strongly advocating dumping him that the A’s had little to lose by allowing him to make a start every 2 months or so and wait for a time in which his trade value was high enough to get something decent in return.

That time, it would seem, is now. Nearing the trade deadline, we are at that special time of year in which (some) GM’s throw caution to the wind in pursuit of that sweet, sweet promise of postseason play. Couple that with the fact that Beane seems to be able to squeeze value out of even the most bloated cadavers (Kendall and Kotsay come to mind), and you get what I consider to be one of the most exciting trade prospects the A’s have had in a while.

The cost/benefit seems to be this: keep a player this is occasionally brilliant but generally rehabbing and hope he can put together a magical run. Or—if a good trade opportunity comes along—turn him into 2-4 players that likely promise more consistent play and an even stronger foundation for the coming years.

Harden is making a run at enough consecutive starts to bring a decent return at just the right time. This is the kind of opportunity that I personally have been waiting for and, IMO, the A’s should seize.

No one in baseball knows his worth cuz no one wants him now. When and only when a contending team needs to roll the dice with a guy like harden will beane or any of us see what someone is willing to give up for him. Until then, the tirekickers will keep rolling along because we all know beane won’t give him up for anything less than a fortune.

I say keep him. But as we know beane, doesn’t matter how terrific the talent, any one can be dealt, if and only if the return is what BEANE wants. And that value judgement from beane, i have full trust in.

I’ll watch harden for the rest of his career, he’s a great pitcher to watch and i wish he would stay an A forever, i don’t see it happening. The better he gets, the greater the chance he gets dealt for a larger return

He’ll front you an “imminent,” if you’ll give back his “eminence.”

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2008/6/10/549501/rich-harden

Is that we will never receive the true value for him because of his injury history. He is undervalued because of that. When he’s healthy, he is a dominant ace, and probably the top starter in the AL. Who could we get in return that would even come close to that? He is the one pitcher on our team that during playoff time can change the entire outlook of a series. I firmly believe that any player we receive in return will be inferior in talent to Harden, and if there is one thing we are lacking on this team, it’s a superstar.

Ultimately, to win in postseason play, a team needs at least one dominant starter. Harden is that guy, and there is nothing in a trade that could help us more in the 2008 and/or 2009 postseason than Rich Harden.

I’m still waiting for Beane to pull the old bait and switch with Harden and Blanton. I’d love for him to reel-in the Yankees, or Cubs, or Cardinals with talks for Harden in return for several top prospects, but ultimately get them to settle for Blanton for a percieved slightly less-valuable prospect package, but a package in the Mulder-mold: three solid prospects from a pretty good system.

I think if Beane did that, everyone would be happy.

if we’d only get back one top prospect for harden, as some sportswriters have said, i’d much rather keep him.

to be thought of as a douchebag. Do we even need reasons to call someone a douchebag anymore?

I think Harden’s a keeper, for this year at least, and I’d love to sign him if he stays healthy the remainder of the season. He’s SO much fun to watch pitch, and there is this swagger and demeanor on the mound that I dig.
I’ve also met him several times out here in Chicago – he was the first one to sign the ball I brought (along with Zito and Street) a couple years ago, and then rapped momentarily at the bar where the A’s stay earlier this year. He’s always been very pleasant, approachable, and genuinely seems like a nice guy. I’d hate to see him go cuz’ I like to watch him go!

And for what it’s worth, I really like Gaudin, and it bums me out that he’s not starting, and, it’s out in the media now. I don’t know what you do for the starting issues; the pieces from trades are pitching really well, adn they’re not going anywhere. Wonder what Gaudin gets in a trade, though here again, wouldn’t like to see him traded. The media part of it’s a bummer, and I’m sure that’s caused some issues – too bad. Feel for the guy. Gamer. Comes back quickly from surgery, and performs.

I’m in the ever shrinking “Keep Harden In Oakland” club with you my friend….......... such is life.

“Go A’s!”

that has been so good but hurt so much early in their career? And then went on to have a great career? just wondering. if not, maybe he should be traded (for the right price). as much as I like watching him pitch.

JR Richard,