OAKLAND -- In hindsight, Rich Harden knows he came back too quickly when he returned from the disabled list in June to try and shore up the A's injury-riddled bullpen.
So if the right-hander does pitch again this season, it'll be for one reason only: because his sore right shoulder is fully healed.
"At that time, it seemed like the right decision," Harden said Tuesday of his early comeback. "The team basically was having a hard time without (relievers Justin) Duchscherer and (Huston) Street. ... I wanted to get out there and help the team. That's the hardest part about being here and being in this situation; you kind of convince yourself, 'Yeah, I'm fine. I can do it.' "
In the wake of two successful starts, veteran right-hander Esteban Loaiza -- due to earn $7 million next season -- might be fitted soon for an eighth major-league uniform. Teams have until Friday to add players and have them be eligible for postseason play.
"I'm not really concentrating about other teams," Loaiza said. "I just want to finish strong and stay healthy, and we'll see where it goes from there."
Loaiza, who has pitched in the playoffs for the A's, Yankees and Texas Rangers, is not publicly lobbying for a trade to a contender but knows his fate is in the hands of A's general manager Billy Beane.
"If something happens, it happens," Loaiza said. "This is my seventh team. I understand business is business. It's not my decision."
http://www.contracostatimes.com/athletics/ci_6745545
What a move for us - frees up tons of room to invest in the draft and then ultimately in to free agency with the new stadium opening..