The Red Sox entered Sunday’s action with the best record in the American League (60-37), good enough for first place in the always-tough AL East. They boast baseball’s most dangerous batting order, and have been getting strong pitching in spurts.
But starting pitching depth has been a weakness for most of the season. And the Red Sox are aiming to correct that at this year’s trade deadline.
According to Peter Gammons, who now works for MLB.com and the MLB Network, the Boston front office has inquired recently about the availability of Oakland right-hander Rich Harden.
Harden, 29, has a 23/8 K/BB ratio since returning from the disabled list in early July and held the Yankees to two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings Saturday in a 4-3 A’s victory. Injuries have held him back since his breakout early tenure with the Athletics, but the native of Canada still owns a cool 3.66 career big-league ERA.