Murton Part of Deal for Harden, Unicorns Everywhere Unhappy

Goodbye Matty. Hope you and your mystical steed are happy in Oakland...

From ESPN.com...

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


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

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

Harden, scheduled to be a free agent after the 2009 season, is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts 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.

UPDATE: Cubs.com sent me a fancy email on the trade.



Go Cubs.

I'm Sure Hendry Thinks Trachsel Can Recreate the Magic of '07

Okay, so Jason Marquis has apparently “developed a split fingered fastball,” i.e. “found a way to surgically remove the suckitude just long enough to convince someone like Dusty Baker to think he's good,” and Ted Lilly continues to evade those people looking for the Zodiac Killer, so the Cubs rotation looks remarkably strong right now. However, if the Cubs want to (gulp) play deep into October, the general consensus is that they're going to need one more shut-down starter. Shane Falco Hill doesn't look like he'll ever get over the yips, so they're going to have to look outside the organization.

The good news-There are going to be quite a few pitchers of varying talent available for the Cubs over the next few weeks. According to a number of sites that feature actual news and not just idiots making bad “Replacements” references, the market looks to heat up sooner rather than later, as GMs on teams that are already out of it have finally realized they can get more for players if they, you know, trade them earlier in the season. So, without further adieu, a run down of six of the available starters:

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THE “IF WRIGLEY WERE THE SIZE OF A NATIONAL PARK, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA” GROUP

Greg Maddux, Padres.
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye

You were great once, Greg. You're a first ballot Hall of Famer and now that Roger Clemens has shrunk back to his Bruce Banner size, its pretty obvious you were the greatest non-roided up pitcher of my generation. But let's be honest, here. You'd be the 7th best starter on this team right now. Nostalgia only gets you so far.

Randy Wolf, Padres
Home and Away splits for Randy Wolf. End of story.

THE “HELL, MARK O'NEAL NEEDS SOMETHING TO DO WITHOUT PRIOR HERE” GROUP

A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays
He apparently really wants to come to the Cubs, and would probably be a one-year rental. He has an option for '09 and Scott Boras likes money. Stay healthy, and the Cubs can leave the money on the nightstand.

Rich Harden, A's
When I was 11, I convinced my 8 year old neighbor to trade his 1963 Willie Mays card for my 1988 Mark Grace Donruss because “newer cards are shinier.” I have a feeling Billy Beane uses some of the same arguments when Jim Hendry calls about trades. Even so, if they can get him and manage not to give up the entire cities of Des Moines, Peoria, and Daytona, AND he stays healthy (yikes), he's probably the best pitcher available (even better than Anthony Anderson's long lost brother, C.C.).

THE “YAY FOR STUPID GMs ON OTHER TEAMS” GROUP

Eric Bedard, Mariners
So the Mariners give up four of their best players in their farm system for Eric Bedard, who proceeds to turn into Chet Steadman. Meanwhile, George Sherrill leads baseball in saves and the other three guys you traded are showing progress already. Its no wonder Bill Bavasi got fired today. You get pantsed by Andy MacPhail and you need to go. Thankfully, their ownership is already hitting the eject button on Bedard (and the rotting corpse of Richie Sexson), so the Cubs could potentially swoop in and get him for 60 cents on the dollar. Then again, Jim Hendry attempted to deal Ronny Cedeno, Matt Murton, Felix Pie, and Sean Gallagher for Brian Roberts. I'm going to go cry for awhile.

THE “DARYLE WARD WILL NOW HAVE TO FIGHT MMA STYLE TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO THE POSTGAME SPREAD” GROUP

C.C. Sabathia, Indians.
He's a free agent at the end of the year, so he'll probably be a rental. He was godawful in the playoffs last year and for the first month this year. He would require half the farm system in a trade. He doesn't bend the brim on his hat (a fashion trend in baseball that needs to stop. Now.). Yet I can't imagine the Cubs being anything less than a 2-1 favorite to win the World Series if they could find a way to pry him from the Indians.

Peter Gammons says the Cubs don't have enough to get Sabathia, which of course means that the Cubs are going to get him.

As someone who has absolutely no sources whatsoever and operates exclusively in the realm of baseless rumor, I would bet that the Cubs make a huge run at Sabathia, but end up with Burnett. Regardless, I have no doubt that the Cubs make a pretty big splash this season and get someone who is considered a difference-maker. And the day it happens, Cubs fans will explode with a joy that we haven't seen since July of 2004 when the Cubs made the biggest splash of the season by getting perennial all-star Nomar Garciaparra. That worked out well, didn't it?