Thread: Article: Twins Ink Rich Harden to Minor League Deal

MLB rumors says Harden is signed, so we'll see what he can contribute.

Great signing. We should all say the rosary every day in hopes of keeping him healthy.

Twins signed RHP Rich Harden to a minor league contract.

He's been given an invitation to spring training. Harden missed the entire 2012 season following surgery to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder, but he's reportedly healthy now and trying for a comeback. The 31-year-old hasn't had any success since 2009 and has, of course, had major problems with staying healthy, but it doesn't hurt to see what he might have left.

Scott Diamond recently underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=...or-League-Deal

Apparently Ryan is looking under every rock to see if there is an effective major league pitcher underneath.

Originally Posted by Kwak

Apparently Ryan is looking under every rock to see if there is a pitcher underneath.

Fixed.

I like this signing a lot. I would like him to get 4 more of these guys. Talent, motivated to prove themselves, no long term financial committment. what's not to like? If he gets three or four of these type of comeback attempts, perhaps one will pay dividends, but you never win the lottery without buying a ticket.

What's not to like is that this is the strategy, instead of signing one legit pitcher. Hope is a bad strategy.

I love this one! sure hope he lasts more than 20 pitches. On a minor league contract, any production is all bonus and this guy, if healthy enough to pitch, is better than most any other option in the system. That's a HUGE "if," but it's low risk/high reward.
Go Harden!

Originally Posted by mike wants wins

What's not to like is that this is the strategy, instead of signing one legit pitcher. Hope is a bad strategy.

While I normally agree, this only registers because he was once a big name. It's a minor league signing, no different than the signing and invitations made to Deduno, Walters and Vasquez. He's not even taking a 40-man roster spot, which means this should probably register lower on the off season radar than the Josh Roenicke and Tim Wood signings.

In a vacuum, it is not a bad signing. As a collection, buying only bad players or injured players, and hoping they somehow become something they are not, is a bad strategy.

I could care not care less about this signing, it is the overall strategy that this indicates and fits within that I care about.

Obviously this is good and I wish they would have targeted Harden and others like him to minor league deals and not messed around with Correia and Pelfrey.

Kind of reminds me of the Joel Zumaya experiment i guy that got good stuff but just can't stay healthy hopefully this one works out!

Originally Posted by mike wants wins

What's not to like is that this is the strategy, instead of signing one legit pitcher. Hope is a bad strategy.

I would rather have 5 of these kind of guys then 1 Correia

The Twins need to do more than sign minor league contracts. That just proves how dirt cheap Ryan is. He is a dirt bag!

He should probably just start the Twins' famous "Rest N Rehab" program immediately.

I like this signing. Now its time to sign Brandon Webb and see what he has left in the tank. In all honesty we know 2013 is a lost cause, but while we give these reclamation projects a shot the guys in the minors will be developing for the future and if one of them actually gets back to his almost former self...then its a win win!

The love for guys with a .0001% chance of a big payoff here shows me why casinos have so many more slot machines than poker tables.

Originally Posted by AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS

I like this signing. Now its time to sign Brandon Webb and see what he has left in the tank. In all honesty we know 2013 is a lost cause, but while we give these reclamation projects a shot the guys in the minors will be developing for the future and if one of them actually gets back to his almost former self...then its a win win!

Do not forget Scott Kazmir