I'd be interested in keeping Harden...

[Clapp]

But no way if he's going to be getting anywhere near this much money:

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--><b>Signing Harden to a four-year deal for $50-$60 million is risky, but that's probably what they will have to pay to keep him. </b>Harden has a career winning percentage of .645 (49-27) and 3.36 earned-run average, which is superior to Carlos Zambrano's .613 winning percentage (103-65) and 3.47 ERA.

Starters who have a lower career winning percentage include CC Sabathia (.623), Barry Zito (.557) and Chris Carpenter (.610). Harden won't command the kind of money Sabathia, Zito and Zambrano got, but he should be in the neighborhood of Ryan Dempster's four year, $52 million deal.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Am I crazy or is that just an <b>absurd</b> price for him? He's thrown 150+ innings ONCE in 7 seasons. He's as good as there is when he's out there and right, but it's not enough to give him nearly that much money. I'm not talking about just us, I'm saying I don't know how any team can do that.

[Ace]

That sounds like a 2007 contract.

Then again, look at what Dempster got.

[rok]

Who wrote that garbage? Are they seriously comparing him to Z? Absolutely absurd is right.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=59811:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Who wrote that garbage? Are they seriously comparing him to Z? Absurd.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Take a guess.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=59812:date=Aug 24 2009, 08:12 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Aug 24 2009, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59811:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Who wrote that garbage? Are they seriously comparing him to Z? Absurd.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Take a guess.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Either Sully or Rogers.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=59813:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:13 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Aug 24 2009, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59812:date=Aug 24 2009, 08:12 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Aug 24 2009, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59811:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Who wrote that garbage? Are they seriously comparing him to Z? Absurd.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Take a guess.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Either Sully or Rogers.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sully it is.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=59814:date=Aug 24 2009, 08:14 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Aug 24 2009, 08:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59813:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:13 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Aug 24 2009, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59812:date=Aug 24 2009, 08:12 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Aug 24 2009, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59811:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Aug 24 2009, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Who wrote that garbage? Are they seriously comparing him to Z? Absurd.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Take a guess.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Either Sully or Rogers.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sully it is.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The depths of his stupidity knows no bounds.

[Ace]

I can't envision a scenario in which Harden could possibly get from the Cubs what another team will pay him.

Which sets up potentially interesting 2010 rotation issues. For example, it is unlikely that Wells continues to be the best pitcher on the staff. That could leave the Cubs with Zambrano and Lilly, who are likely to be strong, and Dempster who will probably be around 4.00. Then what about the back of the rotation?

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=59816:date=Aug 24 2009, 08:16 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Aug 24 2009, 08:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I can't envision a scenario in which Harden could possibly get from the Cubs what another team will pay him.

Which sets up potentially interesting 2010 rotation issues. For example, it is unlikely that Wells continues to be the best pitcher on the staff. That could leave the Cubs with Zambrano and Lilly, who are likely to be strong, and Dempster who will probably be around 4.00. Then what about the back of the rotation?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gorzelanny most likely, and if we get desperate, we can always try to acquire someone at some point.

[Destined]

I want Harden more than anyone. But we cannot make the same mistake the Dodgers did over signing Darren Dreifort. We really could use him, but not for that much when he's not a guarantee. Anything more than $8-9M is too much of a risk. Given, if he's healthy he certainly could be worth it, but there's more risk than reward. I'd rather go for Lackey for that money.

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=59817:date=Aug 24 2009, 09:18 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Aug 24 2009, 09:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59816:date=Aug 24 2009, 08:16 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Aug 24 2009, 08:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I can't envision a scenario in which Harden could possibly get from the Cubs what another team will pay him.

Which sets up potentially interesting 2010 rotation issues. For example, it is unlikely that Wells continues to be the best pitcher on the staff. That could leave the Cubs with Zambrano and Lilly, who are likely to be strong, and Dempster who will probably be around 4.00. Then what about the back of the rotation?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gorzelanny most likely, and if we get desperate, we can always try to acquire someone at some point.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'm sure Gorzelanny (or Marshall, or Samardzija, or Caridad, or Russell, or Jackson, or Cashner, etc., etc.) is likely to be the 5th, but what I mean is: isn't the back end of the rotation likely to be significantly worse next year than this year?

[Butcher]

Harden won't get that kind of money from anyone.

[Destined]

<!--quoteo(post=59824:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:20 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Aug 24 2009, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Harden won't get that kind of money from anyone.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Yankees over paid A.J. Burnett, who had arm trouble too. Someone definitely could buy Harden, and Marquis got a hefty deal a few years ago. It's definitely possible.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=59829:date=Aug 24 2009, 09:23 PM:name=Destined)-->QUOTE (Destined @ Aug 24 2009, 09:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59824:date=Aug 24 2009, 07:20 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Aug 24 2009, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Harden won't get that kind of money from anyone.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Yankees over paid A.J. Burnett, who had arm trouble too. Someone definitely could buy Harden, and Marquis got a hefty deal a few years ago. It's definitely possible.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The market has changed completely since then.

[rok]

And Burnett is a model of consistency compared to Harden. I don't think anyone is willing to guarantee Harden more than 2 years. It would be beyond foolish.