32-year-old righty Rich Harden is not retiring, tweets Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com. Though he has not played professionally since 2011, and had a comeback bid with the Twins fall apart last year due to multiple, ongoing injury issues, Harden will apparently give it another go. Harden has been brilliant at times in his career, and owns a lifetime 3.76 ERA over 928 1/3 innings (including 9.2 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9).
Here are a few more notes to round out the evening:
- One factor in Bronson Arroyo's decision to sign with the Diamondbacks rather than the Orioles, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, was the fact that Baltimore had scrapped deals with Grant Balfour and Tyler Colvin over concerns with their physicals. The O's offer was on par with that of the D-Backs: it was for slightly less guaranteed money, but carried a greater third-year option value. While Connolly writes that other factors — including a preference for the NL West — certainly played a role, he says that the risk of a deal falling apart at this stage of the off-season weighed substantially in Arroyo's decision-making process.
- The Marlins have made clear that they hope to extend star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, but MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that Stanton still wants to see what the organization does moving forward. "I want some team security as well," Stanton said. "I'm very pleased with how things panned out for me. But I would like to see it grow. I have my security, somewhat now. I'd like to see a team full of that, which we are going in the right direction." The 24-year-old slugger inicated that he does not expect to engage in talks until after the coming season. "In order for the team to have security," he said. "that doesn't happen in two seconds. That happens over a season or over two seasons. You show me that, and we can get something going."
- A major factor in the rebuilding process of another NL East club — the Mets — is the development of young catcher Travis d'Arnaud. Though he struggled at the plate in limited action last year, the backstop comes with an excellent pedigree with the bat. Promisingly, moreover, he also showed signs of adding value in another area, writes Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com: in his short season of work at the MLB level, d'Arnaud flashed outstanding pitch-framing ability.
Stanton will be on the Rangers as soon as he hits free agency trust me
He’ll be in yankee pinstripes
The cost of scrapping deals….
Que the Harden to Baltimore jokes now..
On a serious note..
Of the various guys have seen either out of the game (or should be) the last couple of weeks and have said that they are not retired, but waiting on the right offer, or a MLB deal.. Etc.. Harden is one guy I’d like to succeed and finally have that 1, good, healthy season before he hangs it up.
A shame to have all that talent, proven talent in spurts, yet have so many horrible injuries interrupt what could have been. Only threw over 150 innings 1 time was so bitten by injuries.. To have seen him reach 200 one time..
That’s not how you spell “cue.” “Que” is the Spanish “What?”
Sorry, but no. “Que” is the Spanish for “that”. “¿Qué?” is the Spanish for “what?”. Accents make a big different in Spanish – “inglés” is English while “ingles” is the word for “crotch”. Mamá is “mother” and “mama” is breast. Etc.
I wonder how long this will affect the Orioles’ reputation with FA’s…
Probably not long. As soon as they sign someone this will all be water under the bridge. Especially (god forbid) if Balfore has health issues with his wrist and knees (I think that’s why he failed). There is a difference between a team signing a player that they know is hurt or coming back from injury and a player who is supposedly healthy and the medicals show something different
It’s probably just us online overthinking it.
If it continues as a pattern, then of course it should be pointed out. But, this time next year we’ll probably not even remember it. I’m not minimizing it. It has pretty much characterized the whole awful offseason for the Os. That’s sure.
That’s a pretty cool chart in the d’Arnaud article. I’m not sure if it says a whole lot considering the small sample size for TDA, but it would appear to have some weight when you take into account that TDA was catching September call-ups and Dice-K and Aaron Harang and that Matt Harvey was shut down for the last month.
I cannot believe I am older than Rich Harden…
I can!
Rich Harden was one of my favorite strikeout pitchers early on in his career. His stuff was so good. I hope he can find success here late in his derailed career.
D’Arnaud could be something Special. Especially for a Catcher
They were 74-88 last year. Granderson is replacing Byrd, who had an amazing season for them. Harvey is out. Bullpen is unimproved. They had an amazing group pitching performance last season. Replicating it without Harvey won’t happen. I have them losing 90 games. David Wright is not getting any younger, and that back of his is always a concern. I wish the best for them as my favorite team in New York, but I have zero optimism for a .500 season in 2014 from the Mets.