ESPN 1000's Bruce Levine is reporting that the Cubs have acquired Rich Harden and Chad Guadin for RHP Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson.

AP also is reporting the deal.

I hate the A's. Every time they're getting close to having a team that might compete, they trade off one of their current best players. I'm trying to see who the diamond in the rough is going to be this time for the A's. Maybe the minor leaguer? My youngest son has converted over to being an A's first, Red Sox second fan. Maybe he'll come back and reverse that. Billy Beane could have had Theo's job. I guess he really likes California, or something.
Oh well, at least we won't have to try to hit Hardin in August.

I would rather have to hit him in August than October.

He stayed in California to be with his family.

I would be ecstatic today if I were a Cubs fan. If I'm an A's fan, I'm not sure how I would take this. It's a weird deal for them, but Beane always seems to make successful trades in one way or another.

Maybe the A's are tired of Harden's constant trips to the DL, or maybe they think the next one is right around the corner. Or, maybe Harden makes the Cubs the best team in baseball. I'm sure the A's will plug in some of their new acquisitions right away, and some of them will be good, but Harden's been an ace this year for sure. The A's would be are an awful team to try to like.

True about Beane and CA, but you'd think the guy, with all his talent, would like to be with a team someday that has a good chance to go all the away.

Well, honestly, if this is indicative of the types of trades he would be making here, im glad he stayed in OAK

And yes, i realize most of his trades have been good ones for OAK, but this one is not IMO

They got zero impact talent back for Harden, who while he is injury plagued, is certainly an ace when healthy

I believe the A's asked for Ian Kennedy and the Yankees turned it down. Harden is too much of damaged goods to get anything more than what they got.

Ian Kennedy? Speaking of damaged goods. Best thing about the Harden deal is he's now in the NL. Maybe we'll see him in the world series.

unless Gallagher turns into Cy Young, it seems sort of risk-free for the Cubs.
yes, Harden could fall apart any minute.
but they didn't appear to give up much to get him.

Oakland sucks. They always shoot themselves in the foot.

No, they don't suck, it's just that they can't afford to keep anybody who can command big money because of the cruddy market they're in. So, instead of waiting for their option year to come up, they get whatever they can for such players as early as they can. Their big hope is for their new stadium in Fremont to bail them out a la the Giants, but that's not scheduled to open until 2012, if they get the money. Sox fans are really fortunate right now that people will kill for two seats in Conig's Corner, for, what $150?

Yeah and if he does turn into Cy Young..they'll deal him in a few years too.



Really? I would have driven Ian Kennedy to Oakland myself.

There's no way it was Kennedy for Harden straight up. Beane asked for Hughes and Joba for Blanton so he would have asked for a lot more for Harden.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...8/SP74VLU7F.DTL

See, thats why Beane makes no sense to me - he tries to rape the Yankees, asking for people he knows they won't give up for a guy like Blanton - then trades Harden, to the Cubbies [who just watched their division rival get CC] for peanuts. Shouldn't the A's have been in a position to ask for more there? Isn't there another NL team who would have paid more for Harden if the goal was to get him out of the AL? I don't know, if I was an A's fan, I'd be pissed.

You realize you're quoting an opinion piece by a writer in San Francisco, right? I knew this was going to be your source for the Kennedy line you dropped earlier, but I didn't bother. There is no evidence that the A's asked for Ian Kennedy, nor is there anything to suggest that it was turned down.

As Yankee fans we’re used to it. Jerry Colengelo did the same to us in the Shilling deal….but I digress.

It's not only the Yanks, Beane asked the Reds for one of Cueto or Bailey, + Votto + another prospect for Blanton this past off season. That doesn't make any sense compared to what he ended up getting back for Harden. Unless he's afraid that Harden's shoulder will fall apart or he had no intentions of trading Blanton and just wanted to see if he could get a king's ransom for him.

Time to make a move on Huston Street. Beane has obviously taken a bad knock on the head and is in a giving mood. Harden may have an injury history, but the Cubs fleeced the A's on this one.

I wouldn't mind going after Street but I disagree that the A's were fleeced in the Harden deal. The Cubs added a 26 year old top level, albeit injury prone, starting pitcher and a decent swingman to their staff in the midst of a pennant race. Anytime you can add two young MLB proven pitchers to the roster, you do it.

Yeah they gave up a valuable asset in Gallagher but he's only 4 years younger than Harden. Who is likely to be of more value down the stretch this season? As for the rest, Murton hasn't been able to stay in the big leagues, Patterson is still a AAA player at this point. Donaldson is highly rated as a catching prospect but let's face it, the Cubs minor league system has not exactly been a shining example of player development.

I think the Cubs made a very good deal for themselves. It could also turn out to be a very good deal for the A's if Gallagher and Donaldson develop as expected but how would you like to be an A's fan? They are, by no means, out of the post season race and they trade their best SP for prospects...no thanks.

You say that you disagree that the A's were fleeced, then you go on to make all the arguments that the Cubs got a good deal.

Some stuff about Harden: his last two starts weren't great, and some talking head I heard said his velocity was off. Mike Krukow also hit him between the eyes, saying he won't pitch unless he's 100%, and that most pitchers aren't that very often all year but go out there anyway. He was pretty rough on Harden, especially when you consider he's a Giants announcer. Another Bay Area guy said some of Harden's injuries have been from just reaching back for liners hit off him. Big baby? Interesting to see if anything happens in Chicago how Piniella handles it.

Sweet Lou will have him on the DL by September.

At least Baker isn't there anymore.

It was just something I had heard so I did a quick Google search. I saw that it was talked about on MLB trade rumors and NYYfans.com so I figured it had some merit. Seeing what they got back for Harden, I wouldn't be surprised.