CHICAGO, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - The Chicago Cubs beat a Wednesday deadline to pick up the seven million-dollar option on righthanded hurler Rich Harden, despite his late-season battle with injury.

Harden received a cortisone shot in his right shoulder in early September, and the speed of his pitches dropped after his start against the Washington Nationals on August 24.

The Cubs limited Harden's appearances as the regular season waned, giving him just two starts after September 11.

The Canadian pitched in game three of Chicago's first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

With a career record of 41-20 and a 3.23 ERA, Harden has been dominant when healthy. He made 25 starts this season after combining for 13 the previous two years.

The Cubs acquired Harden from the Oakland Athletics prior to the trade deadline, hoping that he could be the final piece in getting Chicago to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

After his arrival he posted a 5-1 record with a 1.77 ERA and helped lead Chicago to the best record in the National League.

Their World Series hopes remained unfulfilled, however, as they were swept by the Dodgers in the first round.