An ace in the hole

ARLINGTON - Rangers general manager Jon Daniels summed up the team's decision to sign oft-injured starter Rich Harden as a risk well worth taking. The Rangers completed the deal for Harden on Thursday, signing him to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2011. Now the Rangers will hold their breath and hope that Harden is the pitcher who displays ace stuff and not the one who has spent time on the disabled list in each of the last five seasons. "We understand there was some risk involved," Daniels said. "When he's out there, this is a guy with No. 1 ability. He's a stopper in the true sense of the word. It's something we felt we needed." Harden, who went through tests Thursday in Arlington before the contract was official, will be introduced at a news conference this morning. He signed a one-year deal for $6.5 million plus incentives. There is a mutual option for 2011 at $11.5 million. There is also a $1 million buyout for 2011. Harden, 28, is 50-29 with a 3.39 ERA in 135 games. He's made 30 or more starts once in his career, in 2004. Since then, he has started 25 or more games in just two seasons. One of those was this year, when he went 9-9 in 26 starts for the Chicago Cubs. His career has been curtailed by oblique, back, shoulder and elbow injuries. But Daniels said the Rangers did their homework before clearing money for Harden by trading veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood to Baltimore. "I think he has grown and learned how to manage his body and take care of himself," Daniels said. "The injuries the last couple of years are more the nagging variety than anything structural. We understand the history." Lowell next? Former Red Sox All-Star Mike Lowell could be the next acquisition. Daniels insists that much work remains before the trade can be finalized. Both clubs understand what will be required to make the deal successful. The Red Sox would have to take on most of Lowell's $12 million salary for 2010, perhaps as much as $9 million, and would get Max Ramirez. Commissioner Bud Selig would have to sign off on the exchange of cash because it is more than $1 million. But Daniels said Thursday night the discussions weren't far enough along to ship anything to Selig, and medical reports had not been exchanged. Lowell, who would be used primarily as a designated hitter, was plagued by hip and thumb injuries last season. Looking for bats: Daniels said he has looked at other power bats, which include Jermaine Dye, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome and Milton Bradley. Interest in Bradley, though, isn't very strong, and the Rangers have learned they are all but out on Marlon Byrd, who is asking for too much money over too many years. Briefly: The bullpen could be set, though the Rangers continue to be in the mix for left-hander Darren Oliver. {ellipsis} Ben Snyder, a 24-year-old left-hander, was the second player acquired in the Millwood trade. He held lefties to a .146 batting average last year at Double-A in the San Francisco organization. Special contributor Jeff Wilson contributed to this report. IN THE KNOW Rich Harden Age: 28 Ht./Wt.: 6-1, 180 Bats/throws: Left/right CAREER STATISTICS Year Team W L IP H ER BB K ERA Totals 50 29 753.2 603 284 329 783 3.39 2003 Oak 5 4 74.2 72 37 40 67 4.46 2004 Oak 11 7 189.2 171 84 81 167 3.99 2005 Oak 10 5 128 93 36 43 121 2.53 2006 Oak 4 0 46.2 31 22 26 49 4.24 2007 Oak 1 2 25.2 18 7 11 27 2.45 2008 Oak 5 1 77 57 20 31 92 2.34 2008 Cubs 5 1 71 39 14 30 89 1.77 2009 Cubs 9 9 141 122 64 67 171 4.09