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Harden ready for chance to be Rangers ace

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rich Harden looks forward to the opportunity to put his injury woes in the past and pitch 200 innings a season for the Texas Rangers.

Harden has averaged 9.35 strikeouts per nine innings over the past seven seasons, more than any pitcher with at least 125 starts in that span.

Now if he could just pitch a full season. The right-hander has been on the disabled list seven times the past five years.

"I've learned to try to put it behind me. There's always going to be those questions (about health)," Harden said Friday. "I basically use it as motivation to work harder and be out there every fifth day. Hopefully have a whole bunch of healthy seasons here and put it behind me. But I feel great."

The Rangers introduced their new starter after a busy week at the winter meetings, where they traded Kevin Millwood to help clear payroll space. Harden will get $6.5 million next season and can earn another $2.5 million in performance bonuses.

There is an $11.5 million mutual option for 2011.

Harden was 9-9 in 26 starts last season for the Chicago Cubs. He missed nearly a month in the middle of the season with a lower back strain.

"Definitely, my ultimate goal is go out there and make every start," Harden said. "Make 30-plus starts and reach 200 innings, I expect that out of myself every season. Unfortunately, some things have happened in the past that haven't allowed me to. I truly feel that I am getting closer to doing that."

Harden, who turned 28 last month, had to pass a physical before the agreement was finalized.

"We truly believe the best of his career is ahead of him," team president Nolan Ryan said.

General manager Jon Daniels said Harden was the Rangers' primary target going into the offseason and had been coveted for quite some time.

"You really don't have to follow him all that closely to know what a dominant upper rotation starter he's got the ability to be and has been in his career," Daniels said. "We know what he's capable of. He can go in there and flat shut down an opposing lineup."

Harden struck out 171 batters in 141 innings last season for the Cubs, who acquired him in a trade from Oakland in July 2008. He was drafted by the Athletics and made his major league debut in 2003.

Harden is 50-29 with a 3.39 ERA in seven big league seasons, but has thrown more than 148 innings only once (189 2-3 innings in 2004). He has been on the DL for a strained left oblique (2005), strained back (2006 and 2009), sprained elbow ligament (2006), and strained shoulder (twice in 2007 and once in 2008).

Daniels also said there was nothing new on the pending deal to acquire 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell from the Boston Red Sox.

The 35-year-old third baseman was an All-Star four times from 2002-07, hitting .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs in 2007. But he slumped to 73 RBIs in 2008 and 75 RBIs this year, hitting 17 homers each season.

Lowell had surgery in October 2008 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip and remove a bone spur on a thigh bone. He is owed $12 million in 2010, the final season of a $37.5 million, three-year contract.

That deal would be subject to physicals and Boston would have to pay a substantial part of Lowell's salary. So there is still work to be done before Lowell goes to Texas as a designated hitter and backup first baseman, likely for catcher Max Ramirez.

"But we feel pretty good about it," Ryan said. "There would be a lot of benefit to that. When you have a young ballclub like we have, when you can get an individual of that character and that status, it definitely has an impact on your ballclub."

Daniels acknowledged Friday that it is unlikely that Texas would be able to re-sign Marlon Byrd. The outfielder turned down salary arbitration and is seeking a three-year deal.

The Rangers did agree to terms with television play-by-play man Josh Lewin on a contract for 2010 with a mutual option for 2001. Lewin also works on broadcasts for the NFL's San Diego Chargers.