Reports just came out on Saturday that the Boston Red Sox are close to pulling off a Rich Harden trade with the Oakland Athletics. What was initially unclear was what Harden would cost, but Kevin Goldstein checks in with a report:
MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox To Send Lars Anderson In Deal For Rich Harden, According To Report
Won't be official until tomorrow, but sources indicate it's Lars Anderson AND PTBNL from #RedSox to #Athletics for Harden.
This would explain why Anderson was removed from a Pawtucket game earlier in the day. On the surface, it seems a bit steep. Anderson was rated the No. 17 prospect in baseball prior to 2009 by Baseball America, and then the No. 87 prospect in baseball prior to 2010. But then, Anderson’s stock has been dropping. The left-handed first baseman is still only 23, but he’s plateaued in triple-A, posting a .775 OPS over more than 900 trips to the plate. He’s shown some discipline, but his power has yet to develop, which is wreaking havoc on his ceiling.
Still, considering that Harden is an injury-prone rental, the A’s will be happy to take a chance on Anderson. Plus, there’s the player to be named later. Oakland comes away with an intriguing young talent, and Boston comes away with a guy who could either help them win the World Series, or get hurt and do absolutely nothing at all.
As Goldstein writes, this deal isn’t expected to go down for realsies until Sunday.
Also, Dan Roche confirms that it will be Anderson and a PTBNL for Harden. This trade has not happened, but it is happening.
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