Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
Red Sox land Rich Harden for Lars Anderson, player to be named 07.30.11 at 10:02 pm ET
By Alex Speier

Rich Harden

CHICAGO — One by one, the dominoes started to fall.

On Friday, Erik Bedard had a terrible outing in his return from a knee sprain, retiring just four of the 11 batters he faced.

On Saturday, Hiroki Kuroda informed the Dodgers that he would not waive his no-trade clause, thus taking him off the market.

Also on Saturday night, reports had the Rockies and Indians closing in on a deal that would send starter Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland in exchange for prospects (a package headlined by left-hander Drew Pomeranz and also including right-hander Alex White), even as Jimenez — somewhat shockingly — took the mound for the Rockies against the Padres.

The group of desirable starters on the market dwindled rapidly, to the point where the Red Sox were left with few places to turn if they did indeed want to acquire an upgrade for their rotation — a matter that has become a somewhat pressing concern in recent days amidst the growing concern about the health of Clay Buchholz, out since mid-June due to a back injury, going forward.

And so, the Sox did not remain passive. Instead, as the Red Sox played the White Sox on Saturday night, the Boston front office was moving to acquire the best option remaining on the market in landing Athletics right-hander Rich Harden.

Harden has dealt with numerous injuries through his career that have limited to an average of 97 frames per season from 2005-10, a pattern that continued with a muscle strain under his right arm that kept him out for the first three months of this year. But when he is on the mound, he features legitimate top-of-the-rotation stuff. He has struck out more than a batter an inning throughout his career, including this year, when in five July starts he went 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 10 walks in 29 1/3 innings. If indeed power pitching is at a premium in October, then Harden would represent the prototype option of the sort of pitcher whom teams like to feature in their rotation (albeit one who is 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in four postseason games).

In exchange for Harden, a major league source confirmed, the Red Sox sent first baseman Lars Anderson to the Athletics as part of a package that will also include a player to be named. Once the top prospect in the Red Sox farm system, Anderson has seen his stock drop in recent years as questions arose about whether his power did not develop.

This year, with Triple-A Pawtucket, Anderson was hitting .261 with a .362 OBP, .420 slugging mark and .782 OPS, along with 10 homers. However, he has recently experienced something of a power surge, hitting .296/.367/.571/.938 with six homers in July. And at the age of 23, Anderson’s advanced approach at the plate suggests that if he does develop power, he could be a fine option as a big league starting first baseman.

That opportunity was unlikely to come in Boston, however, given the deal that landed Adrian Gonzalez with the Red Sox during the offseason followed by the seven-year extension that will keep him in Boston through 2018. And with Anderson’s offense insufficient — at least right now — to forge a role as an everyday major league DH, he became a chip with whom the Sox could part.

While getting traded can prove shocking, for Anderson, the deal represents a homecoming. He hails from the Bay Area, having attended Jesuit High School in Sacramento. An 18th-rounder in the 2006 draft, Anderson actually was convinced to sign with the Sox in no small part due to his experience during a workout at the Athletics’ home ballpark in 2006.

Harden would appear to represent a rental player, since he is eligible for free agency after the season and he is unlikely to qualify for either Type A or Type B free-agent status, which would entitle the Sox to draft pick compensation if he turned down a potential Sox offer of salary arbitration.

Nonetheless, given the shape of the 2011 club — which harbors significant October ambitions — and the fact that Anderson did not represent a cornerstone prospect, it was a move that the Sox were willing to make.

Read More: 2011 Trade Deadline, lars anderson, Rich Harden, Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Wu

    Again, replacing an injured Buckholz with a pitcher who is injury prone. Isn’t it about time that somebody took the keys away from Theo?

  • John

    Do not like this….he is not what we wanted or anyone wanted and Lars is a good good player!!!!! BAD CHOICE!!!!!!!

  • Wake and Bake

    What would you have liked them to do? Trade Middlebrooks and Renaudo + some other mid-level prospect for Jimenez, who is getting 50-50 split from experts around the country on whether he is a true #1 starter in the rotation in the NL (note, not the AL, not AL East)?

    Truth be told, I would have liked them to get Jimenez but not at the expense of giving up Renaudo, whose ceiling is simply too high. I am not 100% thrilled with getting Harden but I think it simply adds insurance to the Buchholz situation at a relative low cost. Lars Anderson’s stock has dropped substantially since last year and he is not likely to break into the big leagues with Adrian Gonzalez at 1B and Papi (for now) occupying the DH spot. You figure between Buchholz and Harden, one of them should be able to become/stay healthy through September and be the #3 starter on the team in the playoffs. Beckett/Lester/Buchholz(Harden)/Lester, that’s as good as if not better than other playoff contender’s rotation, Phillies’ included.

  • Casey

    All of you are absolutely insane. Trading Lars Anderson was the best thing possible not only for the Red Sox but Anderson himself. With 1B locked up till the end of the world in Gonzalez, where is Lars ever going to get a legitimate every day opportunity? Lars is a fantastic player and it will be fantastic to see him flourish in Oakland as an everyday player.

    On that note, what else could you get as a legitimate starting pitching option at this point? Bedard? He’s just as injury prone. Keep your cool folks. If anything the team just got at worst a solid 5th starter for the next 2 months that will allow Buchholz to relax and take extended time (if needed; hopefully not) to get to 100% by October.

  • Dano50

    Anyone see what Jimenez did against the mighty Padres tonight? This was the best guy available for the price. Good roll of the dice. We’ll see.

  • Dixie Normus

    I hope they put his locker right next to JD Drew’s.

  • Mike

    This is a great pickup, would’ve liked to get Ubaldo but the price was too steep for someone that might not be a #1 in the AL East. Harden has experience against both NL and AL and has great stuff but hasn’t been able to use it because of injuries. This guy before was a top prospect and still has the makeup, he’s just been derailed, a great low-risk, high reward pickup. At worst you have Lackey who has been solid as of recent. Andersen was sold low, but he wasn’t going anywhere in this organization.

  • Thinker

    Great pickup…Lars had little value to the Sox (you all remember who our current first baseman is, and what his contract looks like, yes?), and Harden had little value to the A’s. This is how trades are made. Theo would NEVER get great value out of Lars, because other teams KNOW he isn’t in the Red Sox plans. Also…he was not a coveted prospect around the majors by any stretch.

    Come on guys…this is a great pickup for little cost to the Sox.

  • Wu

    A “great pickup” is wishful thinking at its best. If the plan is to bring home another pennant, then ol’ Theo has to be a bit more proactive and a little less stingy; common wisdom states that the majority of “coveted” prospects are simply built up to bolster potential trade acquisitions—nothing more.
    Buchholz probably isn’t gonna see another start this year and the beloved Sox pitching staff has become grossly reliant on the one part explosive, two parts anemic offense.

  • Joe

    Should be entitled “A look at a player we didn’t get since all of the Boston media declared the deal done when it wasn’t”

  • http://twitter.com/#!/phoenixsi what is xrumer

    Web 2.0 Sites Resources. Huge list for backlinks http://ow.ly/69GLq?e=34l87

  • http://www.sportspicksnation.com/sports%20picks%20against%20the%20spread/sports-news/page/135 NFL picks against the spread

    hello there and thanks in your information ? I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did alternatively expertise some technical issues using this site, as I experienced to reload the site a lot of instances prior to I may get it to load correctly. I were considering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, however sluggish loading instances instances will very frequently have an effect on your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could glance out for much extra of your respective exciting content. Make sure you replace this again very soon..

  • http://www.jetsjerseysprostore.com/dwight-lowery-jersey-c-14_31.html authentic Dwight Lowery Jersey

    Your post is great. It is very descriptive and I am sure it can attract ton of readers and reviewers. Keep doing great job!

  • http://www.adidasoccercleats.com/ adidas f50 adizero

    Browsing and discovering a lot of these sites is beneficial, that said, there are a couple of this Yahoo information sites that I take pleasure with browsing!

  • http://pokerteam-am-niederrhein.com/index.php Busby Tana

    Hey! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m finding sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m searching at alternatives for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a excellent platform.

  • http://malaysiapalmoil.blogspot.com/2011/05/malaysia-palm-oil-land-for-sale.html Agriculture Land For Sale

    Great post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I am inspired! Extremely helpful info particularly the remaining section :) I handle such info a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  • http://forum.aktivatedmusic.com/showthread.php?3-Ak-gang&p=130099&posted=1#post130099 mbt shoes uk

    Nice post. I be taught something tougher on different blogs everyday. It would at all times be stimulating to read content material from different writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d favor to make use of some with the content material on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your internet blog. Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.nikemercurialsuperflyiii.com/ nike mercurial superfly

    Great, I am latest to all your blog and I very be grateful for this helpful topics and fantastic design. You’re a really writer!

  • http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpcinternetbanking.com%2Fsuntrust-online-banking Roy Ewalt

    WHAT are you on about? Muslims versus Jews? Airforce? President on Speed-dial???

  • http://freeticketsforyou.com FREE tickets

    I used to be recommended this web site by way of my cousin. I’m not positive whether or not this publish is written via him as nobody else know such exact about my difficulty. You are incredible! Thank you!

  • http://scrapeboxfaq.com/ Leonard Dugger

    Wow, wonderful blog structure! How long have you ever been running a blog for? you made blogging glance easy. The entire look of your web site is great, let alone the content!

  • http://www.restaurant-allegro.ro/nunta.html Meniu Nunti

    Wow, wonderful weblog format! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you make running a blog look easy. The entire glance of your website is excellent, let alone the content material!

  • http://www.moncostumesurmesure.com costume sur mesure

    Very interesting , thanks

  • http://www.malaysiaoilpalm.com/malaysia-palm-oil-land-wanted Palm Oil Plantation

    Undeniably consider that which you stated. Your favourite justification seemed to be at the net the simplest factor to take into accout of. I say to you, I definitely get irked at the same time as other folks think about concerns that they plainly do not recognize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top as neatly as defined out the entire thing with no need side-effects , folks could take a signal. Will probably be again to get more. Thank you

  • http://www.grdc.com.au/linkdirect.cfm?targeturl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pcinternetbanking.com%22%3EInternet+banking%3C%2fa%3E+is+a+great+way+to+do+business.++Banking+on+the+internet+has+become+a+way+of+life+ Euna Bourbonnais

    Tremendous things here. I’m very satisfied to peer your article. Thank you so much and I am taking a look forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Schedule
Baseball Analytics Blog
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify