Rich Harden close to deal with Rangers
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Two teams who lost pitchers earlier in the day were on the verge of replacing them late today as baseball’s annual winter meetings headed for a busy close.
After sending Kevin Millwood to Baltimore in exchange for reliever Chris Ray, the Texas Rangers moved to fill Millwood’s spot in the rotation with former Cubs right-hander Rich Harden, who has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $7.5-million contract. Harden, 28, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, but he was healthy enough to make 26 starts last season, going 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA.
Texas’ other team, the Houston Astros, lost LaTroy Hawkins to a two-year, $7.5-million deal with one of their division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers. But they have agreed in principle to a trade that would bring them right-hander Matt Lindstrom from the Florida Marlins. Lindstrom, 29, was 2-1 with a 5.89 ERA in 47 1/3 innings out of the Florida bullpen in 2009. Lindstrom is reportedly flying to Houston for a physical, after which the deal will be made official. It is unclear who the Marlins would be sending to Houston in exchange for Lindstrom, who is eligible for arbitration.
-- Kevin Baxter in Indianapolis