Cubs Respond: Get Harden From A's

The Chicago Cubs did not even wait 24 hours to respond to the Milwaukee Brewers blockbuster trade in which they acquired 2007 AL Cy Young Award Winner Cici Sabathia. Today the Cubbies acquired SP Rich Harden from the Athletics. Harden is 5-1 on the season with a 2.34 ERA. Harden also has 92 Ks in just 77 innings of work. Harden is the perfect #2 starter for Chicago behind Carlos Zambrano and gives the Cubs a slight edge over Milwaukee once again. The Cubs also got P Chad Gaudin in the deal. Gaudin can start or come out of the pen and has a nice 3.59 ERA on the season. These guys did not come cheap though for Chicago. The A's got highly touted pitcher Sean Gallagher, OF Matt Murton, OF Eric Patterson, and a minor leaguer.
The Cubs and Brewers after these two blockbusters have cemented themselves for now as the two best teams in the National League. The Brewers could use a reliever, but have a loaded lineup and starting pitching core. Chicago can hit with anyon! e and has a great bullpen, and this deal solidifies their starting rotation. Both of these teams will be playing in October pending major injuries of course. As of right now, this is likely your NLCS preview. Obviously we have plenty of time before the July 31st trade deadline, and the Phillies or Mets and whoever comes out of the West has plenty of time to make deals of their own, but for now the Cubs and Brewers are far superior.
For those of you awaiting NHL and NBA Free Agency talk, tomorrow I will likely have NHL and Thursday look for NBA.