Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Twins have signed pitcher Rich Harden to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Harden, 31, had surgery to repair his right rotator cuff on Jan. 31 and missed the entire 2012 season with a shoulder strain.
He made 15 starts for Oakland in 2011, going 4-4 with a 5.12 earned run average.
The injury-plagued hurler can be quite effective when healthy. He boasts the third-best strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio in the majors since 2003.
Harden is 59-38 with a 3.76 ERA in 170 career games, all but 10 as a starter, with the Athletics, Cubs and Rangers.
The Twins also announced pitcher Scott Diamond underwent a scope Tuesday to remove a bone chip from his left elbow. The team is confident he'll be ready for spring training.
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