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Chicago acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin in exchange for Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson and Josh Donaldson.
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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs have acquired pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson.
Harden has been the ace of the Athletics staff this season, compiling a 5-1 record with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts. He has 92 strikeouts in only 77 innings, and has allowed only five home runs in 2008.
The oft-injured 26-year-old righty has not made 30 starts in a season since making 31 in 2004. He made only 16 combined starts in 2006 and 2007 while suffering from back and arm issues.
Harden sports career numbers of 36-19 with a 3.42 ERA in 97 appearances in parts of six seasons, all with Oakland. He has been placed on the disabled list at least once a year since 2005.
The trade comes in the wake of the Brewers acquisition of CC Sabathia from Indians, and Harden will join pitchers Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster to give the Cubs one of the most formidable rotations in the National League.
Gaudin also joins the Cubs as a versatile pitcher who can either start or come out of the bullpen, doing both this year for the Athletics. He has a 5-3 record this season with a 3.59 ERA in 26 appearances, including six starts.
The 25-year-old has gone 24-23 with a 4.33 ERA in six seasons with Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Oakland. He was used primarily as a starter in 2007, making 34 starts and going 11-13 with a 4.43 ERA.
Gallagher has split the last two seasons between the Cubs and Triple-A Iowa. The 22-year-old is 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA this season in 12 games, including 10 starts. He was originally a fifth round pick by Chicago in the 2006 Draft.
Murton, 26, has spent parts of four seasons with Chicago, batting .250 with two doubles and six runs batted in after being called up from Iowa after Alfonso Soriano was injured. His best campaign came in 2006 when he hit .297 with 13 homers and 62 RBI in 144 games. He was acquired by the Cubs in a four-team trade in 2004 that involved shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.
Patterson, 25, was an eighth round selection by the Cubs in the 2004 Draft and has also split the 2008 season between the major league club and Iowa. In three stints with Chicago this season, he hit .237 with one home run and seven RBI.
Donaldson batted .217 with six homers and 23 RBI in 63 games for Single-A Peoria this season. The 22-year-old catcher was a second round selection by the Cubs in the 2007 Draft.
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