Harden Is Back With A's Competing To Be Starter
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Baseball Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Rich Harden spent the postseason watching the Texas Rangers win a long-awaited AL pennant and reach their first World Series.
It was strange to suddenly be an outsider, and not to be part of it. He still considered those guys teammates, even if the Rangers had designated him for assignment after the regular season to give him his unconditional release.
Harden endured the frustration of yet another injury-interrupted season -- and went into the winter unsure of who might offer him a job. Turns out his career has come full circle: He returned to his roots with the Oakland Athletics.
Harden will report to spring training Tuesday in Phoenix hoping to make a case that he can still be a reliable starter for a club that knows how dominant he can be when at his best.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
