Rich Harden pitches against the Reds in July. (Nancy Stone/Tribune)
It's a very small lobby at the O'Hare Hilton, and hard to miss anyone who walks by.
But Cubs general manager Jim Hendry managed to not run into Rich Harden's agent during the first couple days of the general managers' meetings, which conclude today.
Does that mean the Cubs have absolutely no interest in re-signing Harden, as has been speculated for weeks?
Not according to agent Arn Tellem.
"I didn't see Jim Hendry here," Tellem said Wednesday morning. "I did talk to him and I know we'll continue to talk. I think he's just trying to gather information and assess his team's needs and what's out there and so I'm sure we'll be talking more in the next week or two."
The Cubs have not said much about Harden, who went 9-9 with a 4.09 earned-run average in an up-and-down season. After going 5-6 with a 5.47 ERA in the first-half, he went 4-3 with a 2.55 ERA in the second half.
But Harden was shut down at the end of the year, leading to renewed questions about the strength of his shoulder.
"He's fine," Tellem said. "If the team had been in the race, he would have been pitching. No health issues at all."
Harden made 26 starts and threw 141 innings, striking out 171 batters. His 10.91 strikeouts per nine innings pitched was the best mark in the majors.
Despite that, the Cubs seemingly have no interest in bringing him back, or even offering him arbitration, which would assure him of being Cubs property in 2010. Seattle and Boston are considered the early front-runners for Harden, though he may have to settle for a one-year deal because of his history of injuries.
Harden said repeatedly he wants to stay with the Cubs, and apparently still clings to the hope that they'll re-sign him.
"He very much likes Chicago, so we'll see," Tellem said. "It's like (Tellem client Hideki Matsui)- we're just starting the process. It's very early and I'm sure we'll be talking to the Cubs over the next couple weeks."
Get our updates on 
I like Harden and his ability to throw strikes. He would make a great 8th inning set-up guy along with Grabow and could ocasionally fill in as a starter. Offer him arbitration and hope he stays! I would rather have him on the team than Samardija.
I like Harden and his ability to throw strikes. He would make a great 8th inning set-up guy along with Grabow and could ocasionally fill in as a starter. Offer him arbitration and hope he stays!
no no no no no.
not another roster spot for a fragile player. healthy bodies only need respond to offers.
no no no.
If at a 2 year deal and a reduced rate, I would sign him. Nothing long term for this guy. Can you say "glass" arm?
Harden was basically are 5th starter last year. He was skipped several times in the rotation, had the fewest amount of innings pitched, and tied Z for least number of wins.
The most important number I listed is innings pitched. Harden threw 141 innings in 26 starts, which averages to 5 1/3 innings per start... That is horrible, he's killing the bullpen which is why the team had to go out and trade for Gorzelanny and Grabow from the Pirates.
Furthermore, a fifth starter can't be making $7 to $10 million per season. Why do you think we dumped Marquis? He was making to much money, even though he was a great 5th starter since he consistently ate up 200 plus innings every year.
Best deal the Cubs should offer Harden is a bullpen spot (maybe let him compete with Marmol for the closer spot) at $3 to $4 million for 2 to 3 years.
Who needs Harden when we have Samardzija, who should win a minimum of three games next year, maybe four.
I think the Cubs should give him another year with an incentive based contract. If you think of him as getting 20-25 starts and winning 8-10 games. Anything else would be a bonus. Plus there would be starts available for some AAA pitchers to get their feet wet. Harden is a good 6th man in the rotation. He has more Upside than Downside.
M H...great idea. I really like the possibilities Harden holds as a closer. He's basically a two pitch guy and when he's right he has good control...certainly better than Marmol.
Hey M H...It's Wood...not Woods. If you can't get that right, don't bother posting any comments in here.
Hendry bashers really crack me up. A few years ago it was "how could Hendry stick with Mark Prior for so long? Doesn't he know that Prior is always hurt?" Now it's "how could he not resign Rich Harden?" Hendry sticks with one hurt pitcher for too long and it's "FIRE HENDRY". Fine and fair enough. But then when Hendry wants nothing more to do with another hurt pitcher it's "FIRE HENDRY". Really? Why do you dopes even follow the Cubs if all they do is make you feel this bitter?
Make Harden the closer. It worked for Woods and Eckersley.
My opinion is, if Hendry ends up losing Harden then he should be fired on the spot. Harden not only wants to remain a Cub, but with the inconsistency of the Cubs starting staff, resigning Harden is actually a no-brainer.
Of course, Hendry imo has no business still being the Cubs GM anyways, and any move he makes always seems to be stupid, so i have no faith whatsoever of Hendry doing anything that's smart, baseball wise.
When you have an incompetent running your team, it really leaves very little hope for long time fans to think we'll ever see a World Series come to Wrigley Field.
"Despite that, the Cubs seemingly have no interest in bringing him back, or even offering him arbitration, which would assure him of being Cubs property in 2010."
Don't the Cubs have to offer arbitration to receive the compensation pick when he signs with another team?
He can't pitch more than 5 innings anymore! The guys got talent he just can't deliver quality starts. Offer him the long reliever spot or the 8th inning setup spot in the bullpen at $4 million per for 2 or 3 years perhaps. That way his arm won't get overtaxed pitching 4 or 5 innings a week, and he remains a valuable component of the pitching staff.
A bullpen with Marmol closing; Grabow and Marshall as your lefty's, Harden and Guzman along with a third righty (the Shark, David Patton or a free agent) as you righty's, that's a pretty good bullpen.