Report: Harden claimed

A pair of unknown teams have placed waiver claims on Chicago Cubs pitchers Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman, according to a published report.

FoxSports.com reports that a National League team has placed a waiver claim on Heilman, but it was not known in which league Harden was claimed. If true, the Cubs would have three options with both players: Work out a trade with the team who claimed each player, pull each player back off of waivers, or let the player go.

Harden, 27, will be a free agent after the season. The Cubs might try to obtain a top prospect for him now rather than risk losing him for nothing this winter. Harden is 8-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 22 starts this season, and he could provide a major lift to a contending team's starting rotation in the season's final five weeks.

Heilman, 30, also will be a free agent after this season. He is 2-3 with a 4.55 ERA in 57 relief appearances with the Cubs, with batters hitting .262 against him this season.

The Cubs lost two of three games this week to the Washington Nationals, who own the worst record in baseball. At nine games back, the Cubs' playoff hopes appear to be all but finished.

-Tom Musick