Twins Balk At Cub’s Demands

Dave Van Dyck (Chicago Tribune) reports the Minnesota Twins are balking at the Chicago Cub’s asking price for pitcher Rich Harden.  The Cubs are reportedly asking for one or two top prospects for Harden, but the Twins believe that is too steep a price without having Harden signed long-term.

According to Joe Christensen (Star Tribune), as of Saturday, no window has been given to the Twins to allow them to lock up Harden to a long-term contract.

The Cubs have a little motivation to trade Harden because he is in the last year of his contract and in order for the Cubs to get compensated, (if he doesn’t get traded) is if the Cubs offer arbitration and Harden rejects.  If he indeed rejects arbitration, the Cubs would get a sandwich pick as well as the first round pick of the team that signs Harden (there are some exceptions, but we won’t get into it).

Although the Cubs would essentially acquire two first round picks, there are no guarantees the prospect/s will become good major league players.  If the Cubs were to land at least a highly touted top prospect, that may be enough for the Cubs to let him go.

Dyck does not seem too optimistic a deal will get done between the Twins and Cubs.  The deal pretty much depends on “which” top prospect the Twins are willing to cough up.

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