Rich Harden allowed two runs and three hits over six innings and struck out seven Thursday in a no-decision against the Rays.

Harden left with a three-run lead, but the A's bullpen blew up today. Harden is a candidate to be traded this weekend. He's impressed in four of his five starts since making his season debut on July 1, and the A's would be smart to cash him in if it'd bring a quality prospect.

MLB.com's Peter Gammons reports that the Red Sox have inquired about A's righty Rich Harden.

Harden limited the Yankees to two runs in 5 1/3 innings Saturday in a 4-3 victory and has a 23/8 K/BB ratio in four starts since returning from the disabled list. The Red Sox are aiming to add starting pitching depth.

Rich Harden gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win over the Yankees on Saturday afternoon.

Harden held the Yanks to just one run before being chased following a solo homer by Nick Swisher in the bottom of the sixth inning. He gave up five hits and four walks while striking out six. Harden has a 4.63 ERA and a 23/8 K/BB ratio in 23 1/3 innings over four starts since coming off the disabled list. He'll get the Rays next week.

Rich Harden couldn't solve his former team Thursday, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks over just five innings in a loss to the Rangers.

He struck out a pair and gave up a solo shot to Michael Young. It's a significant step back from Harden's first start last week, but that's to be expected when you go from facing the D'Backs at home to facing the Rangers on the road. As long as he stays healthy, Harden should be able to garner some mixed league value.

Rich Harden pitched six innings of two-run ball and struck out six to beat the Diamondbacks in his season debut Friday.

Pretty impressive. What's incredible is that he went without a walk in the game. It's the 10th time in 146 career starts that he's pitched at least six innings and left without walking a batter. Last year, he walked 62 in 92 innings for the Rangers. Harden probably isn't worth gambling on in mixed leagues just yet, but based on this, he should definitely be active in AL-only leagues.

Athletics activated RHP Rich Harden from the 60-day disabled list.

As expected, Harden will make his season debut Friday against the Diamondbacks. The 29-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since spring training with a lat muscle injury, but struck out 12 batters over 7 2/3 innings during his rehab assignment. There will always be risk attached with Harden, but he's a worthwhile addition in AL-only and deeper mixed formats.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin acknowledged that Rich Harden (shoulder) will be limited to around 90 pitches in his start Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Harden has only made two minor league rehab starts, the latest of which lasted 4 2/3 innings, but Melvin thinks he's ready. "We felt like at 90 [pitches], we can keep him," Melvin said. "That's a good number for us. We want him healthy, and he is healthy right now. The people that have the eyes on him feel like he was throwing well at this point. Rather than send him out one more time and get him to 110, we're comfortable with where he's been at this point." While the 29-year-old right-hander remains an obvious health-risk, he could provide a boost in AL-only leagues.

Rich Harden (shoulder) will be activated from the disabled list and start for the Athletics on Friday.

The A's were originally planning on bringing Harden back as a member of their bullpen, but injuries to others in the rotation have changed their way of thinking. Harden has looked good on his rehab assignment, striking out 12 over 7 2/3 innings. He hasn't pitched more than 4 2/3, though, so we would expect that he'll be on a limited pitch count initially. He's obviously no safe bet to stay healthy, but we could certainly see him garnering some mixed league value. Graham Godfrey will be moved to the bullpen.

Rich Harden (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the disabled list in 9-10 days.

Harden allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings Saturday for Triple-A Sacramento in his second rehab start, but he also struck out six and has whiffed 12 over 7 2/3 rehab innings. The A's have been thrilled with how his stuff has looked and he appears to be healthy (for the moment, at least). Either Josh Outman or Guillermo Moscoso will be bumped from the rotation when Harden returns, with Graham Godfrey getting the boot in a week when Brandon McCarthy comes back.

Rich Harden (shoulder) threw three hitless innings Monday in a rehab outing with Triple-A Sacramento.

Harden was absolutely dominant, fanning six batters and issuing just one walk in an otherwise perfect rehab debut. The veteran right-hander could move quickly if the A's like what they see and deem him ready for long relief duty.

Rich Harden (shoulder) will throw a simulated game Wednesday and then likely go out on a rehab assignment.

Harden has been progressing well lately in his rehab to the point that he's suddenly an option to fill a spot in the A's beleaguered rotation once he's ready. Of course, as we all know with him, the possibility of a setback always looms.

Rich Harden "is starting to appear as if he might be an option" to take Brett Anderson's place in the A's rotation.

Harden is needed now more than ever in Oakland, but his status has remained predictably murky as he makes his latest comeback from injury, this time a shoulder issue. However, he has reportedly "had good late life" on his fastball of late, and has resumed throwing changeups. He's worth monitoring in AL-only leagues, but don't count on him for anything more than a handful of starts this season.

Rich Harden (shoulder) threw 20 pitches of live batting practice to three hitters Friday.

Athletics pitching coach Ron Romanick said Harden could have thrown even more, though it's probably better to err on the side of caution given his injury history. While the A's could certainly use him right now, we haven't heard any immediate plans about a minor league rehab assignment.

Rich Harden (shoulder) will throw to live hitters Friday.

It's the first time he's done so since aggravating his lat injury in mid-April. The A's aren't bothering putting a timetable on his return at this point, but he seems unlikely to return this month even if he doesn't suffer any more setbacks.

Rich Harden (shoulder) will throw off a mound Tuesday.

If the bullpen session goes smoothly, Harden will travel with the A's on their upcoming three-city road trip and could soon begin facing live hitters. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined all season with by shoulder problems. He's aiming to return before the All-Star break.

Rich Harden (shoulder) had a successful 15-pitch bullpen session Saturday.

The next step is to throw to hitters, but that hasn't been scheduled yet. There's still no timetable for Harden's return, and, given his history, we shouldn't get too excited about progress reports until he's actually in an A's uniform.

Athletics transferred RHP Rich Harden to the 60-day disabled list.

Harden is still making his way back from a lat muscle strain and acknowledged last week that he probably rushed himself during spring training. He won't be available now until late May or early June.

Rich Harden admits that he may have pushed himself too soon to return from a lat muscle injury.

Harden has been shut down from throwing for a few days after being examined by a doctor earlier this week. "I maybe just pushed it a little too much. ... It's hard not to," said Harden. "That's always been a problem for any athlete. That's just what you do. It's human nature. You want to be out there. Yeah, I may have done that. Ended up probably making this whole thing take a lot longer than it would have originally." He's had setback after setback since the early part of spring training, so we're not holding our breath for his return.

Rich Harden (lat muscle) was shut down from throwing again Monday.

Harden was expected to throw to live hitters Monday, but suffered a setback with his lat muscle. It's the same issue that has bothered him since first arriving to A's camp in February. This sounds like a broken record, but he's sidelined indefinitely.

Rich Harden (lat muscle) said a throwing session Thursday morning "went well."

Harden threw with batters standing in the box, but they didn't swing. He will next throw live batting practice on Monday and a simulated game near the end of the week before going out on a minor league rehab assignment. You never know with Harden, but he appears on track to join the A's around end of the month. It's not known if he'll be a starter or a reliever upon his return to Oakland.