[外電] Rangers unveil newly signed Harden
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and club
president Nolan Ryan hope new starting pitcher Rich Harden fits into the
rotation as good as he did his new No. 40 jersey on Friday morning.
"It looks like it fits," Ryan said.
The Rangers formally introduced Harden after agreeing on a one-year contract.
The right-hander will get $6.5 million next season and can earn another $2.5
million in performance bonuses. There is an $11.5 million mutual option for
2011.
Harden was 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 26 starts last season for the Chicago Cubs.
He led the majors in strikeouts per nine innings (10.91), but pitched only
141 innings because of injuries.
Harden, who has been on the disabled list seven times the past seven seasons,
is motivated to stay healthy and pitch 200 innings. He has averaged 9.35
strikeouts per nine innings over the past seven seasons, more than any
pitcher with at least 125 starts.
"I've found a pretty good offseason and inseason training program and
routine," Harden said. "I've tweaked it every year and I feel like I've found
something that can keep me out there pitching. I want to work harder and
harder to put that behind me and get out there and make 30 starts a season. I
really feel like this is a good fit for me here."
Harden, who turned 28 last month, had to pass a physical before the agreement
was finalized.
"We truly believe the best of his career is ahead of him," Ryan said.
Daniels said Harden was the Rangers' primary target going into the offseason
and had been coveted for quite some time.
"You really don't have to follow him all that closely to know what a dominant
upper rotation starter he's got the ability to be and has been in his
career," Daniels said. "Hopefully not just this year, but a majority of his
career is spent in Texas. ... We know what he's capable of. He can go in
there and flat shut down an opposing lineup."
Harden struck out 171 batters in 141 innings last season for the Cubs, who
acquired him in a trade from Oakland in July 2008. He was drafted by the
Athletics and made his major league debut in 2003.
On another front, Daniels said there was nothing new on the pending deal to
acquire 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell from the Boston Red Sox.
The 35-year-old third baseman was an All-Star four times from 2002-07,
hitting .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs in 2007. But he slumped to 73 RBIs
in 2008 and 75 RBIs this year, hitting 17 homers each season.
Lowell had surgery in October 2008 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip
and remove a bone spur on a thigh bone. He is owed $12 million in 2010, the
final season of a $37.5 million, three-year contract.
That deal would be subject to physicals and Boston would have to pay a
substantial part of Lowell's salary. So there is still work to be done before
Lowell goes to Texas, likely for catcher Max Ramirez.
Daniels acknowledged Friday that it is unlikely that Texas would be able to
re-sign Marlon Byrd. The outfielder turned down salary arbitration and is
seeking a three-year deal.
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=4734430
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