Cubs make their move by getting Harden from A's

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."