Harden Trade

By now, Cub nation is all aware that the Cubs picked up Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin for Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson, Matt Murton, and Josh Donaldson.

Some of us openly wonder what the A's were thinking; others shudder that the Cubs made a trade with Billy Beane that doesn't make sense for Beane on paper.

Maybe the real point was to get something for Harden, as if he were a ticking time bomb of injury that would break the A's hearts if they held on to him too long.

I remember that Andy MacPhail tried to get Sean Gallagher in the Brian Roberts deal that never happened. MacPhail would, of course, know all about the Cubs' minor leaguers. It wasn't so long ago that he was here.

So to me, that is the answer: Gallagher is a very fine player with a bright future. The press is united in its view that he will never be anything more than a fourth starter. Beane must think otherwise. Actually, to make it to the big leagues by 22, it does take real talent.

From the Cubs' point of view, this is absolutely a good idea. Harden is the type of pitcher we needed for the playoffs, to pair with Zambrano. Ted Lilly is a fine pitcher, but he has bad days. It would be tough to feel confident in a playoff sries against Arizona with Zambrano and Lilly versus Webb and Haren, or if Milwaukee gets that wild card, against Sheets and Sabathia.

Harden pushes everyone down one notch in the depth chart. The Cubs also added depth by getting Chad Gaudin included in the deal. With Marmol struggling, and Howry gettnig up there in age, another arm for the 'pen is a good thing, a very good thing.