Rich Harden Claimed, Where Could He Go?

Someone, somewhere, placed a waiver claim on Chicago Cubs starter Rich Harden today.

Who could it be?

There are so many teams involved in the pennant chases in both leagues right now (the Cubs not being among them) that there are lots of options for a potential landing spot for Harden.

Let's take a look at six options, three from each league, for Harden to land with and what they might give up to acquire the starter for five weeks.

NL Option A: Colorado Rockies

The Rockies have apparently caught lightning in a bottle, as they've flown up the standings into a controlling position in the National League Wild Card and are closing on the Dodgers' tail in the West.

They've been rumored to be looking for a veteran starting pitcher to top off their rotation with Jason Marquis and Ubaldo Jimenez since Aaron Cook went down, and Harden would be a great fit.

What they might give up:

The Rockies have a ton of outfield depth, and have been working a platoon with Brad Hawpe and Ryan Spilborghs. I don't think Carlos Gonzalez or Dexter Fowler are going anywhere, and they're really high on Eric Young Jr in the future.

Could Hawpe be reunited with his former college teammates Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot?

NL Option B: Florida Marlins

The Marlins have a good young core group of players, but could use a veteran starter next to (former Cub farmhand) Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson. Harden could help them out a ton.

They have an intriguing young group of players all over the place, and could move any number of players to bring in a player like Harden for the stretch run.

What they might give up:

I don't think Andrew Miller's available for a one-month rental, but that might be a nice pipe dream. Don't even think about Cameron Maybin, either.

But Jeremy Hermida isn't playing exceptionally well and is getting more expensive every year. While the Cubs already have a crowded outfield, adding a young left-handed bat like Hermida might help the decision making with a problem like Milton Bradley this winter.

NL Option C: Atlanta Braves

The Braves are in the thick of the National League Wild Card race, and could use an arm after Derrek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, and Jair Jurrjens. Harden would give them a fantastic foursome for September.

They also have a bounty of young pieces that might be available that could help the Cubs out in the short and long term.

What they might give up:

Don't even say Tommy Hanson; he's untouchable. But Kelly Johnson might fill the Cubs need for a second baseman, and the Braves have some relievers with expiring contracts that might be available as well.

AL Option A: Boston Red Sox

They just released Brad Penny, have already parted company with John Smoltz, and haven't seen much from Daisuke Matsuzaka this year.

Josh Beckett has been very good, so has Jon Lester, but they might be thinking about Clay Buchholz moving to the bullpen. Harden would be a fantastic third starter in a short series against the likes of Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte.

What they might give up:

The Cubs need bullpen help, and the Sox have a ton of young pitchers. Could Manny Delcarmen come back in return? Could the Sox decide to move Casey Kotchman so Victor Martinez can play first base the rest of the year?

AL Option B: Tampa Bay Rays

They made it all the way to the Series last year, and aren't out of it yet this season.

But they haven't seen the production they had hoped for from David Price, and might opt to use him out of the bullpen as they did down the stretch last year. Scott Kazmir has been a no-show much of this year as well.

Matt Garza and Jeff Neimann have been good as well, but this team needs a veteran starter as well.

What they might give up:

Could Willy Aybar be what the Cubs were hoping for when they overpaid for Aaron Miles? He might be the most intriguing player on the Rays roster that's not solidly planted in a starting role, and Jim Hendry loves switch hitters that can play anywhere.

AL Option C: Texas Rangers

The Rangers might be this year's Rockies/Rays underdog story, and they might go for broke and make a move to put a veteran arm at the top of their overachieving, young starting rotation for the next month. They cut their losses with Vicente Padilla, so Harden might fill that void next to Kevin Millwood.

They have a lot of good, young bats they could work with, and have already shown a willingness to make a bold statement when they brought back Ivan Rodriguez

What they might give up:

This might get tricky for the Cubs to pick someone to take back. The Rangers would probably like to move Hank Blalock, but I'm not sure the Cubs want a corner infielder that has injury issues in his history. I also don't see the Rangers moving any of their young outfielders or starters.

There are a couple players that might make this idea interesting, though. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a catcher that's fallen behind Taylor Teagarden on the Rangers' future depth chart, and the Cubs might be interested if they've lost confidence in Geovany Soto (or for additional trade bait this winter).

The other name that's intriguing is Chris Davis. Many onlookers feel Justin Smoak is the future at first base in Texas, and David Murphy might hold down the fort until Smoak is ready. Davis is left-handed and might give the Cubs an option with Derrek Lee's contract expiring in a year.

My guess is...

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the most active big-name dealer at the trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox, will make a move for Harden.

Their pitching has disappointed and they're now chasing the Yankees and their expensive new rotation in the East. And everybody knows the Red Sox don't like looking up at the Yankees.

What they give up could be interesting, and whether they decide to keep Harden after the season will be even more intriguing. But adding Harden to a rotation with Beckett and Lester certainly puts Boston in the conversation with New York to win the American League pennant in 2009.