[iMac]

Cubs trade four players to A's for pitchers Harden, Gaudin

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3478902

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player trade on Tuesday, a day after the rival Milwaukee Brewers landed CC Sabathia.

"He's got really good stuff," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He knows how to win. A welcome addition."

The Cubs received the right-handed Harden and righty Chad Gaudin for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson, and minor leaguer Josh Donaldson.

"It gives us another weapon, and he'll fit in here really, really nice," Piniella said of Harden.


Harden, scheduled to be a free agent after the 2009 season, is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season. He's scheduled to $4.75 million this season.

The oft-injured righty missed a month earlier this season because of a right shoulder strain. It was his sixth trip to the disabled list in his six-year career.

"We've been working on Mr. Harden for a few weeks now," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.

The Cubs said they expected Harden would join the team Wednesday.

The Cubs pay three games against the Cincinnati Reds starting Tuesday night before hosting the San Francisco Giants.

"He'll pitch in the San Francisco series," Piniella said.

Hendry said the trade was not a reaction to the Sabathia trade by the Brewers, who were four games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs heading into Tuesday night.

"Our mode all year is we're trying to get better," he said.

But Piniella liked how it all came together.

"Jim's been trying to improve our team, and he's been tralking to a few clubs about our pitching, and yesterday Milwaukee made a nice trade for a left-handed starter and today Jim went out amd made a nice deal for a right-handed starter," Piniella said.

Chicago also received Gaudin, who was 5-3 win a 3.59 ERA in 26 games -- including six starts. Last season, he was a starter all season and went 11-13 with a 4.42 ERA.

"I had Chad at Tampa Bay and he's got good stuff," Piniella said. "A nice hard sinker and a nice slider so he'll fit in good in our bullpen. This was a move where we got a top of the line rotation pitcher and a nice piece in the bullpen."

To land the pair, the Cubs had to part with Murton, a former top prospect who has yet to live up to his billing. In his fourth season, Murton has shuttled between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago. He's hitting .250 in 40 at-bats.

"Hopefully he'll go swing the bat for them," Piniella said.

They also traded the right-handed Gallagher, who is 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 12 games, including 10 starts, in his second season.

"I thought he came up here and pitched very well for us and I think he's going to pitch better," Piniella said.

Patterson, the brother of Corey Patterson, was sent to the minors on July 3, the fourth time this year he's been sent down. An outfielder who can also play second base, Patterson was hitting .237 with a homer and seven RBIs in 38 at-bats with the big league club.

Donaldson, a catcher for Single A Peoria, was hitting .217 with six homers.

"You're not getting a guy like this without it hurting a little bit," Hendry said.

Piniella said that Hendry had told him recently that the Cubs likely didn't have the pieces to get Sabathia but that the club had other irons in the fire. He found out about the Harden deal when he arrived at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.

"There are some good teams in this division." Piniella said. "I like our team and I like it even more now."

Piniella said the trade should send a message to Cubs fans.

"This shows the Cubs are going to do everything in their power to get where we want to go."

Seems the Sabathia move prompted the Cubs to fire back. That division is going to be real interesting.

[KeyserSoze]

The Cubs have a pretty damn good rotation now (assuming Harden stays healthy).

[GD™]

And with that, the Cubs respond. NL Central is going to heat up. I expect it to be a close race for the remainder of the season.

[Porn Freak]

If Harden can stay healthy, the Cubs have a gem. When he is healthy, he can be one of the best pitchers in the league with his stuff. It's a good trade by the Cubs. They had to do something after the CC trade to the Brewers.

[SuperBrawl]

Wow, if he's healthy the Cubs may just have it. I thought the Sabathia deal tipped to the Brewers a little but with that back end of the pen and now Harden, I think the Cubs have probably locked up the NL. That's just my opinion. Probably Cubs/Brewers in the NLCS.

[ShocK]

Good trade for the Cubs. For the Cubs sake, I hope Harden can stay healthy.

[Porn Freak]

The Cubs are taking a risk with Harden because of his injury history. But it's a risk that they have to take because of his talent and because of the Brewers trade for CC.

[SuperBrawl]

I also don't know anything about the jobbers they gave up.

[PatMan]

Cubs getting Harden is HUGE, imo. When he is healthy, he is a ridiculous pitcher. Now with four very good starters (Big Z, Dempster, Lilly & Harden), the Cubs are gonna be tough to beat. 100 years between World Series is fine by me.

[TheHitmanHart]

Originally Posted by RaZorJR

How do you figure this?

Theres no curse, so I don't see how the Yanks wont win one with A-Rod.

3 reasons.

1. They don't have enough pitching to win it all.

2. They're getting really old.

3. A-Rod becomes mortal once he's in the playoffs.