Cubs trade for Rich Harden

[greasybugsy]

That didn't take long.

One day after the Milwaukee Brewers picked up ace lefty C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians, the Cubs on Tuesday drew an ace from the A's.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry traded four young players to the Oakland Athletics for right-hander Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin.

Going to the A's are pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielders Eric Patterson and Matt Murton and minor-league catcher Josh Donaldson.

Although the timing makes this deal look like a quick-strike response to what NL Central rival Milwaukee did Monday, Hendry said he has been working on acquiring the 26-year-old Harden for about three weeks.

The Cubs' strong interest in Harden quickly was reported in Sunday's Daily Herald.

"Obviously, he's got world-class stuff," Hendry said. "He's been 9 consecutive starts throwing the ball very, very well. It's not any secret that when he's out there, he's about as good as it gets."

The biggest concern about Harden is his health. He was on the disabled list from April 10-May 11 with a strained right shoulder. The injury was described as a mild strain of the subscapularis, an injury that bothered former Cubs ace Mark Prior several years ago.

The Cubs point to Harden's recent run of success as evidence he's OK.

For the season, he is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts, striking out 92 in 77 innings. Over parts of the last six season, he's 36-19 with a 3.42 ERA.

Harden makes $4.5 million this year, and there is a team option for 2009 worth $7 million. If the Cubs do not pick up the option, they can go to salary arbitration with Harden.

"Obviously, there's some risk involved," Hendry said. "He's certainly missed some time. He's never had a surgery. We did extensive work with their doctors, who (A's GM) Billy (Beane) made available to us."

Harden and Gaudin are expected to join the Cubs today. The Oakland media quoted Harden as being surprised.

"I had heard talk about it, but it's still always a surprise," he told reporters. "It's a bit of a shock. But they're (the Cubs) are a good team, and they have a chance of doing something special."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Harden would start Friday or Saturday against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs' rotation already consists of righties Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Jason Marquis and lefties Ted Lilly and Sean Marshall. It's possible either Marshall or Marquis will go to the bullpen.

"He's got really good stuff," Piniella said of Harden. "He's a heck of a competitor. He's a very welcome addition here. We're excited. We'll see what we do. We haven't even talked about it."

Piniella managed Gaudin in Tampa Bay in 2003-04. The 25-year-old Gaudin, a righty, is 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA this year in 26 games, 6 starts. The Cubs will use him as a middle reliever.

The key for Oakland was Gallagher, who was 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 12 games, 10 starts. The Cubs had kicked around other names with Oakland, "but I think the deal had a strong chance to get done once Sean was included," Hendry said.

It's likely Gallagher will enter the Athletics' rotation right away.

"I was just enjoying my time here," said the 22-year-old Gallagher. "They gave me an opportunity to go out there."

Murton came to the Cubs in a July 31, 2004, trade with Boston that brought shortstop Nomar Garciaparras. He was blocked by Alfonso Soriano in left field and Kosuke Fukudome in right.

Patterson saw action with the Cubs this year and last. Donaldson was a second-round pick last year. He was playing at Class A Peoria.

Hendry talked to Cleveland about Sabathia, but the Indians were looking for minor-league prospects who could play right away.

All the while, Hendry was talking with the A's about Harden. He said the deal in no way was a reaction to Milwaukee landing Sabathia. The Cubs entered Tuesday 3 games ahead of St. Louis and 4 ahead of Milwaukee.

"We felt that the two high-end guys that possibly would be available were the two who have already been traded," Hendry said. "Those are legit 1-2 starters.

"So we focused on trying to acquire one of them. It certainly wasn't a reaction. We would have gladly had Rich two or three weeks ago if we could."

Source

[williamb47960]

Sucks that it costed Patterson but if Harden stays healthy it will help big time in the post season.

[greasybugsy]

Gaudin is a good pitcher too, like Ryan Dempster,he could start or go relief...

[Gness]

cubs winnin the world series this year. i put down 2 stacks on it acouple months ago.

[gandooman]

^^ That's a little bold, and this is coming from a long time Cubs fan. Anyways, Gaudin just pitched in relief today, unfortunately, though, I couldn't catch most of the game, but it was 2 innings and a run right? It's all good, I'm sure he'll get his shot in the rotation soon. If it's like

Zambrano
Harden
Dempster

^^ All for sure, then the last two spots are between:
Marshall
Lilly
Marquis
Gaudin

Lilly pitched like a slut today and his ERA has been ballooning, but I think he still deserves his spot in the rotation. I don't like Marquis and I think the younger Marshall deserves more of a chance in the rotation that he does. And there's nothing wrong in going with a six-man rotation for the season and then toss someone in the bullpen for the post-season. Whatever, I'm just excited because we just added some depth to the pitching and that's always a good thing.

[gambino95]

Go Cubbies






They are more Pops' team tho... IDGAF about baseball really.

[greasybugsy]

Originally Posted by gandooman

^^ That's a little bold, and this is coming from a long time Cubs fan. Anyways, Gaudin just pitched in relief today, unfortunately, though, I couldn't catch most of the game, but it was 2 innings and a run right? It's all good, I'm sure he'll get his shot in the rotation soon. If it's like

Zambrano
Harden
Dempster

^^ All for sure, then the last two spots are between:
Marshall
Lilly
Marquis
Gaudin

Lilly pitched like a slut today and his ERA has been ballooning, but I think he still deserves his spot in the rotation. I don't like Marquis and I think the younger Marshall deserves more of a chance in the rotation that he does. And there's nothing wrong in going with a six-man rotation for the season and then toss someone in the bullpen for the post-season. Whatever, I'm just excited because we just added some depth to the pitching and that's always a good thing.

Lilly & Marquis both,getting close to Ace Money, but are up around 4 & a half runs per game,I'm glad that Toronto didn't re sign Lilly a season back.I suppose though they are both better than many of the alternatives.

I don't think they need to have a six man rotation though, thats unheard of in the big leagues.I know as most people probably do that teams always used to have a 4 man rotation,no set up man, no closers....
Gaudin pitched a little under 200 innings in 2007,but any other year the closest he ever came was 64 in 2006.He has started 6 games this year though. I can't see the cubs bumping Marquis or Lilly back, & Zambrano has pitched well,so has Dempster & you have the new man in town, Harden,So that should be there rotation.Look at it this way, it pushes those other guys into the bullpen & makes that stronger..

[Gness]

harden shut shit down today. and looks like imma be rich in a few months.

[gandooman]

What the fuck happened to Marmol? I knew he was too good to be true.

[greasybugsy]

Originally Posted by Gness

harden shut shit down today. and looks like imma be rich in a few months.

If they can keep him around 6 innings a game, then yea he will be great..if they stretch him out and try to get too much out of him, he'll be done..I've seen it with Harden so many times..his whole mlb career!