No Deal: Rich Harden Trade To Red Sox Nixed, Will Remain In Oakland

Rich Harden isn't going anywhere. That's the word out of Oakland, where local media reported early Sunday morning that Harden, who was reportedly traded to the Boston Red Sox earlier in the day, was staying put with the team. Ian M. Browne of MLB.com confirmed the rumors via Twitter.

Reports late on Saturday indicated that the Red Sox had traded minor league first baseman Lars Anderson to the A's and a player to be named later in exchange for Harden. But that just wasn't the case, according to A's reporter Susan Slusser, who shared the following on her Twitter account.

Harden is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA and 30 strikeouts in five starts for the A's.

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Rich Harden Traded From Oakland To Boston For Lars Anderson And Player To Be Named

In an attempt by Theo Epstein to re-conjure the magic that won the Red Sox the 2007 World Series, Boston has reportedly traded for Rich Harden.

The deal reportedly sends Pawtucket first baseman Lars Anderson and a player to be named later for the Oakland Athletics, and brings another pitcher with a shadowy past and injury-plagued present to the Red Sox, much like the Eric Gagne trade did back in July, 2007. 

Harden's only played in five games this year for Oakland, going 2-1 in five starts with a 4.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 3.00 K/BB. In eight and a half major league seasons, Harden is  57-35 with a 3.65 ERA. 

Harden's battled back and arm injuries this year, which postponed the start of his season until July 1st, and he's gone at least five innings in each start this season, allowing two earned runs or more in each start. 

The loss of Anderson means that Boston must hope that Adrian Gonzalez can stay healthy, since trading Anthony Rizzo in the Adrian Gonzalez move last winter means the Sox don't have a serviceable first baseman anywhere near ready for major league action.