The Mariners were one of several teams in pursuit of free-agent pitcher Rich Harden, but reports Wednesday are that he's going to sign with the Texas Rangers. (Getty Images/Chris McGrath)

NBC Sports is reporting that the Canadian pitcher is close to signing a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, for $7.5 million, pending a physical.

Wednesday afternoon, the Texas Rangers traded veteran starter Kevin Millwood to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Chris Ray. But it took Rangers GM Jon Daniels less than three hours to fill the spot Millwood vacated in his rotation. According to NBC Sports’ Craig Calcaterra, the Rangers have signed right-hander Rich Harden to a one-year deal worth $7.5 million that also includes a club option ...

It was a prerequisite to the Rangers' signing of Rich Harden; Kevin Milllwood's $12 million salary simply had to be stricken from the books. To make it happen, the Rangers ate $3 million and sent the veteran to the Orioles for former closer Chris Ray and a player to be named.

The Texas Rangers are closing in on a deal with right-handed pitcher Rich Harden, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Sporting News staff reports Rich Harden is about to return to the AL West.   NBCSports.com and MLB.com report the hard-throwing, injury-plagued right-hander has agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers. Texas also has an $11.5 million club option for 2011. Harden, 28, spent the first five years of his career with the Oakland Athletics, before being traded to the Chicago ...

Rangers close to signing Harden

Rangers may possibly ink Harden

The Red Sox have a great deal of interest in having him around, and a ton of cash to spend on him. The interest seems to be there, and Boston looks like a good fit. The only problem is that this Pacific Northwest native might prefer heading home to play for the local nine in Seattle. Jason Bay? No, Rich Harden. The market for the hard-throwing 28-year-old righty is about to become crystal clear ...

The Yankees apparently are not content with their current rotation as they head into the winter meetings as defending champs. According to Ken Rosenthal of foxsports.com, the Yankees are interested in free agent right-handers John Lackey, Rich Harden, Joel Pineiro and lefty Randy Wolf. Both Pineiro and Wolf appear to be longshots for the Yankees who are expected to sign at least one free-agent ...