Harden to Red Sox Falls Through

**Drew** · 07-31-2011, 02:17 AM

A trade that had been in the works to send right-hander Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics to the Boston Red Sox has reportedly fallen through.

A person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of such talks.

Harden said Saturday night he was told by general manager Billy Beane he was staying put and would start Tuesday. The clubs had been close to a swap that would have sent Harden to Beantown and brought Triple-A first baseman Lars Anderson to the A's.

"I just spoke with Billy and he says I'm an 'A' and I'm starting on Tuesday in Seattle," Harden told reporters. "It's definitely a strange position to be in, but from what I hear I'm here and I'm staying here. I'm happy to be an 'A'. ... It's definitely a strange position to be in."

Harden, 30, missed the first 82 games of this season with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle. But in the course of a big-league career that began in 2003, Harden has had disabling injuries to his shoulder, hip, back, trunk and elbow. He has a career record 57-35 over nine season with the A's, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs.

Harden returned to Oakland's rotation in July and has made five starts, totaling 29 1/3 innings, with a 2-1 record and 4.30 ERA. His longest start came on July 16 against the Angels, when he went seven innings, striking out nine and walking two, in a 4-3 win.

In Anderson, the Red Sox would have given up a first baseman who seemed to have little future in Boston, given that his progress is blocked by Adrian Gonzalez, who has six years after this season remaining on his contract. Anderson is hitting .261 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.

Harden has $500,000 left on his $1.5 million, one-year contract.

"It's hard to just ignore (the rumors) but I know that a lot of times there's rumors and nothing ends up happening," Harden said. "You just have to push that in the back of your mind and try not to think about it too much."

Report: Red Sox deal for A's pitcher Rich Harden fall through, source says - ESPN

They got 12 hours!