Major League Baseball

Sources: Cubs' Harden, Heilman claimed

Published Aug. 29, 2009 1:22 a.m. ET

Ken Rosenthal

If the Cubs want to point toward the future, this is their chance.

Right-handed starter Rich Harden has been claimed on waivers by the Twins, and right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman has been claimed on waivers by the Giants, according to major-league sources.

The Cubs will have until Monday afternoon to work out trades, allow Harden and Heilman to depart on claims or pull them back them from waivers.

Of the two pitchers, Harden is far more intriguing. He is 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break, and his .500 opponents' OPS is the second-lowest among NL starters in that stretch, behind only the Phillies' Cliff Lee.

Harden, however, projects as a Type A free agent, so the Cubs could collect two high draft picks if they offer him salary arbitration and lose him on the open market. His status almost certainly will lead the Cubs to demand a high price in a trade, even though a team that acquired Harden only would have him for September.

Harden is earning $7 million this season, Heilman $1.625 million.

ESPN.com was the first to report which teams claimed the two pitchers.