Harden signs 4 year deal / booya!!!!!

[Providence A's]

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NAS...=.jsp&c_id=oak

Ours through 2008, club option for 2009...with this new ownership the rest of the American League should take notice...we are now the 3rd richest club

[RockSports17]

Good for the As. Harden is a very good young pitcher who should help replace Mulder and Hudson in the As rotation.

[Providence A's]

He's going to be better than all 3 of them if he stays healthy...the Big 3 have each "admitted" that Harden has better stuff than they do and could be even better

[A's Baby Girl]

3rd richest club? Very nice

Congrats to Rich. I'm looking forward to seeing him grow more as a pitcher. He's gonna be real dominant.

[Providence A's]

oh yes!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2027827

Fisher, the reclusive billionaire who's putting up most of the money for the estimated $180 million purchase, didn't attend the news conference. With Wolff, Fisher and Schott, the A's now have the third-richest ownership group in baseball.

[RockSports17]

I'm glad to see a new owner in place. I have always felt As deserved better with such a great GM.

[griffeyfan3]

a's got new ownership...didnt know that one.

[Impossibles]

Has there been any announcement on what the future payroll will look like?

And good for Harden. I always love seeing Canadians do well in the majors.

[griffeyfan3]

damn thats something else i didnt know, that harden was a canadian

[Providence A's]

at this point they've been mum about it except for saying that "it's unlikely to go up too much until a new stadium is made"...but that's been reporters speculating, I haven't seen an official word on it from the owners or anything like that

edit: Harden played hockey and stuff...that's been what gets him in trouble sometimes..."the hockey player's mindset"...he gets really mad at himself quite easily if he gets hit or something and that led to some of his trouble last year

[missionhockey21]

I can't wait to see what Beane can do in a couple years with all the young guys developed and cash left to spend.

Very nice to see Harden locked up, he is the future and he has a contract that now proves it.

[Impossibles]

at this point they've been mum about it except for saying that "it's unlikely to go up too much until a new stadium is made"...but that's been reporters speculating, I haven't seen an official word on it from the owners or anything like that

edit: Harden played hockey and stuff...that's been what gets him in trouble sometimes..."the hockey player's mindset"...he gets really mad at himself quite easily if he gets hit or something and that led to some of his trouble last year

That mentality is what Gagne says helps him be a better closer than a starter. He can go right after guys, instead of trying to set them up for the next at bat, or conserving himself so he can work deeper into games.

[Impossibles]

damn thats something else i didnt know, that harden was a canadian

Canadians are taking the league by storm.

Eric Gagne, Cory Koskie, Harden, Justin Morneau, Jeff Francis. We're producing some good players lately.

[Halladay_is_God]

Canadians are taking the league by storm.

Eric Gagne, Cory Koskie, Harden, Justin Morneau, Jeff Francis. We're producing some good players lately.

don't forget Jason Bay

[ATLien]

Wow. Oakland got a new, rich owner? Lucky bastards.

Dan Meyer is also going to be a great top of the rotation pitcher of them. Harden is an ace in the making, but Meyer will be an excellent complimentary starter for the A's.