Harden & Gaudin for Gallagher, Murton, EPatt & Donaldson

[Guest]

That's the thing. Even if we get 3 starts out of Harden, we aren't going to be pining for any of these guys. Marshall has a better future than Gallagher.

 

We gave up the right kind of players

 

Disagree on Gallagher v. Marshall since Marshall has never thrown more than 150 IP. I would think most teams think Gallagher has the better future.

[JWCUB]

Other than Harden's injury risk, this deal is HUGE!

 

How about we follow this up with a Cedeno + Marquis + prospect for Burnett?

 

 

+1

[TruffleShuffle]

my instant analysis:

 

-donaldson is having a tough year. i still think he's got a good bat, but his defense reportedly needs work, and he is at least a couple of years from the majors. with soto set at catcher and welington castillo turning into a good player at tennessee, his loss isn't a very significant one.

 

-murton is a good 4th outfielder or decent starting outfielder. his game will play pretty well in oakland, i think, since it's a pitcher's park and not friendly to fly ball hitters - which murton most certainly is not. i like him, but he really doesn't have a place with the cubs when soriano's healthy. derosa can adequately back up LF and ward can (gulp) play out there in a pinch.

 

-patterson, as everyone knows, i'm a fan of, but he didn't really have a place either. his glove was struggling at 2B and i think the cubs had given up on that idea. i still think he can be a solid offensive 2B, and he's in the right organization to get that plate discipline back on track, but he was really just a spare part as far as the cubs were set up.

 

-gallagher is the biggest loss. he was pretty impressive for his age this year, and while he doesn't have an ace ceiling, he does have a future as a #3 starter. he could be as good as lilly if all goes well, and he's been healthy and durable, so i think he's got a good shot to have a solid major league career.

 

they're heading to a great organization and i wish all of them the best of luck.

 

-rich harden - everyone knows the upside and downside here. he's got wonderful stuff but health is always a problem. i suppose the upside is just too tempting, and if he's healthy when the playoffs roll around, you've got an outstanding #2 behind zambrano. be prepared to hold your breath every time out though; the chances making every start the rest of the year are quite slim. i'm just hoping that whatever injury he suffers isn't major and he can be around come october. that $7M option next year is a no-brainer - again, assuming health.

 

-gaudin - not a bad "throw in" here. he's not as good as his ERA was in 2006, but he's a solid back of the rotation option or a long man out of the pen. in the past his control hasn't been good enough for a guy with average stuff, but he's shown better command so far this year. he offers more ability than marquis, and a rotation of zambrano, harden, lilly, dempster and gaudin would be the cubs' best option right now.

Edited July 8, 2008 by TruffleShuffle

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Gaudin also doesn't look like a bad option in the pen either.

[reggiemiller rules]

I think this is a good deal for both teams. The Cubs got a front line starter, but he does have serious injury risk. The A's got a good young pitcher, 2 useful bats with mlb playing time, and a C who OPS'd over 1.000 last year.

[nilodnayr]

Lou "As of Friday when I talked to Jim, he was pretty certain then that he couldn't get Sabathia, but he said there were other possibilities"...very interesting.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wow, gutsy move by Jim. I wouldn't consider this an outright steal, because you can't negate the health questions. But it's a ballsy "go for it" type move that I have to applaud.

 

i would agree with that. i just don't see this trade having the potential to bite the cubs in the ass. i guess gallagher has the highest ceiling of any of the guys leaving, and i don't see him as anything more than a #3.

 

should have waited until after tonight's game so murton could hit against harang though.

 

That's the thing. Even if we get 3 starts out of Harden, we aren't going to be pining for any of these guys. Marshall has a better future than Gallagher.

 

We gave up the right kind of players

 

That's very true, and for the right kind of a player. I believe all four of those guys can be average to above average major leaguers, but Harden is the only one with a legit shot at excellence.

[erik316wttn]

Gaudin also doesn't look like a bad option in the pen either.

 

Looking at his numbers he can be useful. He can be the long man or even spot start if needed.

 

I'd have rather given up Marshall than Gallagher, but whatcha gonna do? Still a good deal.

[nilodnayr]

Wow, gutsy move by Jim. I wouldn't consider this an outright steal, because you can't negate the health questions. But it's a ballsy "go for it" type move that I have to applaud.

 

i would agree with that. i just don't see this trade having the potential to bite the cubs in the ass. i guess gallagher has the highest ceiling of any of the guys leaving, and i don't see him as anything more than a #3.

 

should have waited until after tonight's game so murton could hit against harang though.

 

That's the thing. Even if we get 3 starts out of Harden, we aren't going to be pining for any of these guys. Marshall has a better future than Gallagher.

 

We gave up the right kind of players

 

Marshall has a better future than Gallagher?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[RammyFanny]

I Love Lamp.

[weis21]

hahahaha \:D/ \:D/ \:D/ \:D/

 

I'm so [expletive] happy!

 

And it's annnounced just before C.C. is set to make his big debut with the Brew Crew! I wonder what their board is saying right now?

[TruffleShuffle]

Other than Harden's injury risk, this deal is HUGE!

 

that's like saying "other than invading russia, napoleon had a wonderful military career"

[reds44]

Man, IF he Harden stays healthy this has the chance to be a huge steal for the Cubs. Gaudin isn't bad himself. I really like the watermelon tosser, and while Murton and EPatt both have some good skills, I just expected Beane to want more than this. Good deal for the Cubs.

[Twiggy]

I love this deal! Basically a Gallagher for Hardin deal. I agree with Vance that I hate to see Gallagher in there but we had to give them sometime.

[reds44]

I love this deal! Basically a Gallagher for Hardin deal. I agree with Vance that I hate to see Gallagher in there but we had to give them sometime.

Gaudin isn't too shabby himself.

[Guest]

Official press release: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080708&content_id=3091876&vkey=pr_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[SouthSideRyan]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[rocket]

oh my. well done hendry, well done.

 

i'm worried beane might know something about harden we don't. but until i see him on the dl, i'm freaking ecstatic right now.

[Butterscup1679666578]

So, when is Harden scheduled to make his next start?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Gaudin also doesn't look like a bad option in the pen either.

 

Looking at his numbers he can be useful. He can be the long man or even spot start if needed.

 

I'd have rather given up Marshall than Gallagher, but whatcha gonna do? Still a good deal.

 

I would have too. Losing Gallagher is tough for me because he was a personal favorite of mine. At the same time, taking that emotional part out of it, this trade is a great deal. We gave up one great piece. The rest of the guys either won't be missed (Patterson, Donaldson) or were a spare part (Murton) with the Cubs.

 

It could be a good move for the A's as well. Murton will get a chance to play. Gallagher will get a chance to pitch every fifth day without worrying about losing his spot in the rotation. Patterson may also get some playing time.

 

I think this is the best deal we could have hoped for.

 

Now we just have to hope and pray Harden stays healthy or at least is healthy come October.

[PrimeTime]

1.81 career ERA against the NL for Harden...This is going to be real fun..

[Andrew Cashner]

This is exactly who i wanted, even more than CC.

[nilodnayr]

Question: Is Harden an FA after this year or what's the deal with him?

he's got a $7M club option for next year

 

Man, that's gonna be awesome going into opening day next year with a 1-2-3 of Z/Harden/Demp. If Hill can get it together, that's a hell of a rotation.

 

Dempster is a FA after this year.

[WindyCity]

WOW -- Thank You Hendry!

 

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[UMFan83]

I heard that this trade was actually made in February but they didn't announce it because they didn't want to overshadow baseball's first half of the season