Rich Harden, Aaron Heilman Claimed on Waivers

The Cubs have placed both Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman on waivers, and both players have been claimed, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com

Neither claiming team is known, though it has been revealed that Heilman was taken by a National League club.  The Cubs now have until Monday to either work out trades for the players, let them walk for nothing or pull them back.

Rosenthal points out that, given the big compensation the Cubs would receive by keeping Harden till free agency then letting him go, they would likely ask for an arm and a leg in any trade.  The Dodgers, Giants and Rockies have all been put forward as teams that would have an interest in picking up Harden for the stretch run.

Obviously, the Cubs aren’t thinking about stretch runs, but are positioning themselves for next season.  That’s what you do when you are completely out of it before September.