Comments on: Rich Harden’s deal fell through over — wait for it — his medical records

By: hansgruber

hansgruber — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:28:22 +0000

Scouts might watch a player and make educated guesses about various injuries, but that’s a poor substitute for an MRI.

Medical records are closely guarded. There is HIPPA, and teams don’t want to give unnecessary advantages to opponents. How surprising is it that an oft-injured guy like Harden would have a deal-breaker medical file?

I doubt the purpose was to thwart a deal with the Yankees, because the Anderson for Harden deal would have been a good one if Harden’s medical report was decent. With Gonzalez entrenched at first base, Anderson has nowhere to go in the Red Sox organization. If the Yankees wanted to make a deal for Harden, they would have done it. They wisely chose not to.

By: hansgruber

hansgruber — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:15:10 +0000

With a pitcher of average health history, you make the deal and take your chances. With an oft-injured guy like Harden, his “full risk” trade value is nil. In order for the A’s to get meaningful value from a trade, they have to either prove he’s got half a season left in his arm, or do something to mitigate the risk.

By: Walk

Walk — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:24:41 +0000

There is no way to get around risk with either side of a trade. I was just offering up a thought i had on trading for players with known injury risks. I would say that this made more sense for me with ubaldo jiminez than it does with harden. They rockies would not even let a medical exam be conducted by the yankees.

By: clydeserra

clydeserra — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:11:54 +0000

So, as long as there is no risk to the Red Sox, the deal is OK?

By: Walk

Walk — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:00:48 +0000

Make the deal like this, almost same as a players incentives. If Harden is physically able to make x number of starts, to be negotiated he gets a player to be named later. Say he makes his next full month of starts with no issues deal is done and full package is sent. If not depending on the number of starts they get a lesser player or have to forfeit the ptbnl. I am sure there are ways to cheat this but you could throw in a medical exam challenge or something. Random thought concluded.

By: clydeserra

clydeserra — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:24:08 +0000

It seems like bs to me. there is no way front office professionals did not know about Harden’s medical history.

I would not be surprised if the red sox used anderson to thwart a harden deal with the yankees

By: ryanmallettsbluntwrap

ryanmallettsbluntwrap — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:17:06 +0000

Today is going to be a crazy day my friends , most likely some trades that no one at all saw coming .

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:37:28 +0000

We know that Lars is available.

By: drmonkeyarmy

drmonkeyarmy — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:29:28 +0000

Oh man, does that mean there will be more Lars Anderson trade rumors today?

By: newpairofsox

newpairofsox — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:29:08 +0000

Thankfully, common sense prevailed.

By: halladaysbiceps

halladaysbiceps — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:27:33 +0000

Boston found out that Oakland had been treating Harden’s arm ailments in the past with a witch doctor. His medical records were documented by a shaman whom they did not agree with.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:17:46 +0000

Louis “I am closing this place Ricky. I am shocked Ricky to find out that there is gambling going on in this establishment.” Ricky “Here are your winnings Louis.” Or something to that effect.