Paul Sullivan, of The Chicago Tribune, reports the Chicago Cubs will continue to give SP Rich Harden (shoulder) extra rest next year by pushing his starts back a day or two every once in a while, according to general manager Jim Hendry.

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan reports Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said the team is fine with getting 25 starts out of SP Rich Harden. "If you told me today we were going to get 24 or 25 good starts out of Rich next year and we were going to have to push him back or miss a start or two here or there, I'd do that in a heartbeat," Hendry said.

Harden was examined by Cubs orthopedic specialist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo on Wednesday and underwent an MRI arthrogram on his right shoulder. The pitcher, who has rotator tendinitis and some subtle instability in his shoulder, will not need offseason surgery. "Rich has had a long history of some difficulty," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "But after the arthrogram was diagnosed by Dr. Gryzlo and other experts at Northwestern [Hospital], it was clearly a situation where the best avenue was not any surgical procedures."

News: SP Rich Harden's $7 million option for next year has been exercised by the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs acquired the hard-throwing right-hander from Oakland on July 8. He was the losing pitcher in Game 3 of the NL playoffs on Saturday night as the Cubs were swept in three games by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 26-year-old Harden went a combined 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA in 25 starts for the Athletics and Cubs this season. Harden, who has battled arm problems throughout his career, was 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts with the Cubs.

Analysis: Harden broke out as a Fantasy stud this season, managing to stay relatively healthy. Making 25 starts, he looked like arguably the best pitcher in the majors, but because of his long injury history, expect to draft him as a No. 2 Fantasy SP next season

The Cubs have decided to pick up Rich Harden's $7 million option for 2009, according to the AP.The team was waiting for the 30-year-old pitcher to visit with a shoulder specialist before making a decision on his option, but the team is apparently not concerned about the injury-prone pitcher's health after picking up his option. He maintained a solid 2.07 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 148 innings this season.

The Cubs have decided to pick up Rich Harden's $7 million option for 2009, according to the AP.The team was waiting for the 30-year-old pitcher to visit with a shoulder specialist before making a decision on his option, but the team is apparently not concerned about the injury-prone pitcher's health after picking up his option.

Cubs exercised RHP Rich Harden’s $7 million option for 2009. The Chicago Tribune reports that Harden's shoulder examination turned up nothing that will require surgery, making this an easy decision. Harden was 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA in his 25 starts for the A's and Cubs this year.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the Chicago Cubs exercised the $7 million option for SP Rich Harden (shoulder) for the 2009 season. Exams showed that Harden will not need to undergo surgery in the offseason.

Harden, who received a cortisone shot in his right shoulder in early September, was 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts with the Cubs, who acquired him on July 8 from the Oakland Athletics. The Cubs could decline the option and make Harden arbitration-eligible. Either way, he is expected back with Chicago in 2009.

According to The Arlington Heights Daily Herald, the Chicago Cubs must decide by Oct. 8 if they will pick up the $7 million club option on SP Rich Harden. The team will not lose Harden if it declines the option; he would then become eligible for salary arbitration.

Rich Harden will have his shoulder examined this week, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Cubs want to know if there are any problems before deciding whether or not to pick up his $7 million option for next season.Harden's velocity dropped significantly towards the end of the season. He still had an outstanding season overall, with an ERA of 2.07 and 10 wins over 25 starts and 148 innings. He will always be a high-risk, high-rewards type of guy for fantasy owners based on his yearly injuries.

Rich Harden will see a shoulder specialist before the Cubs have to make a decision Wednesday on his $7 million option. Barring the discovery of something that's going to require major surgery, Harden's option is sure to be picked up. Even if he needs a cleanup procedure, it'd be worth paying him $7 million for 2009.Source: Chicago Tribune

Paul Sullivan, of The Chicago Tribune, reports Chicago Cubs SP Rich Harden (shoulder) will visit with a shoulder specialist before the team makes a decision on his $7 million option for 2009. General manager Jim Hendry said Harden would be examined Tuesday, Oct. 7, or Wednesday, Oct. 8. If Harden has to undergo surgery to clean out his shoulder, he could be back by early May.

Logging more than 100 innings in one season was an accomplishment in itself for the injury-prone Harden, who combined for just 72 1/3 innings over the previous two seasons. Few pitchers can match Harden when he's on top of his game, but the risk of injury weakens his value to that of a No. 3 fantasy starter.

Chicago Cubs SP Rich Harden allowed three runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings Saturday, Oct. 4, in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to The Associated Press. He walked three and struck out four, falling to 0-1 in the postseason.

News: SP Rich Harden, pitching to keep the Cubs in the playoffs, took the loss in Game 3 of the NLDS at the Dodgers on Saturday. He allowed three runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out six. He struggled with his control at the end of the regular season, walking 11 over his final two starts.

Analysis: Harden broke out as a Fantasy stud this season, managing to stay relatively healthy. Making 25 starts, he looked like arguably the best pitcher in the majors, posting a 10-2 record and a 2.07 ERA. But because of his long injury history, expect to draft him as a No. 2 Fantasy SP next season

Rich Harden gave up three runs in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss to the Dodgers on Saturday night. Harden picked an awful time for just his second poor outing in 13 starts for the Cubs. His velocity was down once again, and his command was off, even if two of the three walks he issued were intentional. Arm problems likely played a role.

Rich Harden allowed three earned runs on five hits over 4.1 innings in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS, with three walks and four strikeouts.Harden was strong in the regular season with a 10-2 record and 2.07 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, but could not prevent the Cubs from getting swept by the Dodgers.

Rich Harden says his shoulder is fine despite that he had to get a cortisone shot last month, according to the Arlington Daily Herald. "Just regular maintenance," said Harden. "I guess some people think it's an issue. There's nothing going on. Regular maintenance, getting ready for the postseason."Harden will always be a question mark health-wise, but he shouldn't be hampered at all by the shoulder tonight.

Gordon Wittenmyer, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Cubs SP Rich Harden (shoulder) received a cortisone shot in his pitching shoulder a month ago, according to multiple team sources. He is 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts since receiving the injection.

NLCS Game 3 starter Rich Harden received a cortisone shot between his starts on August 29 and September 11. We thought it was odd when he sat for 12 straight days, and now the truth has come out. Harden is 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts since the injection.Source: Chicago Sun-Times

The Associated Press reports Chicago Cubs SP Rich Harden pitched five innings Thursday, Sept. 25, but did not pick up the decision as the Cubs lost 7-6 to the New York Mets.