Today is the waiver trade deadline, so it is the last day – like, seriously, this is THE deadline – to trade players for the 2009 season. Players placed on waivers are the only ones eligible to be traded, and Chicago Cubs starter Rich Harden is one such guy. He was claimed by the Minnesota Twins, and the two teams are discussing a possible trade.
But two people close to Harden said they doubted Harden is heading to the Twins. To their knowledge, the Cubs had yet to open a window for the Twins to negotiate a long-term deal with Harden, who is a pending free agent.
It’s possible the Twins would trade for Harden without a long-term extension. He will be a Type A free agent, which would assure them two compensation picks in the 2010 draft if he signed elsewhere.
Though Harden has a history of arm trouble, the Twins believe he would be a good fit. His family actually has roots in Winnipeg, Manitoba, though he was raised in Victoria, British Columbia. StarTribune.com.
Folks are finally catching on to my point that even though the Cubs can get compensatory picks for Harden if he walks via free agency, so can a team that trades for him. Thus, they should be just as likely to want to trade for Harden as the Cubs are to want to keep him.