(Chicago, IL) - From the moment the Milwaukee Brewers acquired ace C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians, speculation abounded as to just how the Chicago Cubs would respond . Most felt that the Cubs would also need to acquire a top-notch pitcher if they were going to maintain their lead in the N.L. Central over the Brewers. Well, it didn’t take long for the Cubs to respond, as ...

This one's gonna be fast because I just got home from tonight's pasting of the Reds.  (Welcome home, Dusty.  Good times!)  The Cubs got pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the A's for Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, and some A-ball catcher named Donaldson.  Hallelujah!  After losing out on CC, I was pretty disappointed.  At this ...

The NL Central, which is apparently trying to become the new AL East, acquired its second big name in as many days on Tuesday, as Oakland traded RHP Sean Gallagher, OFs Matt Murton, 2B Eric Patterson, and single-A catcher Josh Donaldson to the Cubs for pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin. Gallagher seems to be the headliner going to the A's. He doesn't turn 23 until December, and he has ...

The Cubs countered the Brewers recent move to bolster their starting rotation by agreeing to a deal that will bring Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Cubs for Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson, Matt Murton, and Josh Donaldson. The move provides the Cubs with a second (potential) ace at the top of their rotation to pair with Carlos Zambrano, although Harden's health problems will obviously remain ...

Cubs today acquired 2 pitchers that will help solidify their playoff quest. Today they acquired Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden for only Matt Murton, Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson and Josh Donaldson. I can't begin to start to say how happy I am. I know Harden has a history of being as brittle as a 95 year old's bones, but hey when he is healthy (and he is currently) he is a top of the line ...

The Athletics have agreed to send pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Cubs. In return, Oakland will receive highly-touted starter Sean Gallagher and former top prospect Matt Murton along with E ric "Corey's Brother" Patterson and minor leaguer Josh Donaldson . With the Brewers' acquisition of C.C. Sabathia yesterday, Cubs GM Jim Hendry no doubt felt increasing pressure to add another ...

Holy crap!

Just days after the Brewers made a splash by trading for CC Sabathia , the Cubs countered by acquiring an ace of their own , picking up Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the A's in exchange for Sean Gallagher , Eric Patterson , Matt Murton , minor leaguer Josh Donaldson and ... wait, that's it? Whoa. Advantage: Cubs. Harden is obviously a huge injury risk, but no one can dispute that he's one ...

Hours after claiming " nothing's changed " following the Brewers' acquisition of C.C. Sabathia , Jim Hendry and the Cubs have dealt  for Rich Harden . They also receive pitcher Chad Gaudin . The A's get pitcher Sean Gallagher , infielder Eric Patterson , outfielder Matt Murton and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson . That's an awful lot of pitching talent that's entered the division in ...

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 ...

Will update later on, but the trade is official . Cubs get Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin A’s get Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson and Josh Donaldson Not bad at all in my opinion.

The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland Athletics for right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson. More info in a few...wow!

Well, here comes the other foot. The Cubs picked up Rich Harden, as reported by ESPN. The Network reports it's for Gallager, Murton and little Patterson. Let's see what the deal is like before I comment further that this: Sweet. And, please don't get hurt. Go Cubs!!

5:36pm: The Cubs' press release is out.  The Cubs get Harden and Chad Gaudin for Gallagher, Murton, Patterson, and catching prospect Josh Donaldson .  Jim Hendry did his best to counter the Brewers' acquisition of CC Sabathia .  The A's get three MLB-ready players plus a solid offense-oriented catching prospect. 5:25pm: Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio in Chicago reports that the ...

Broadly circulated speculation that the Cubs had offered young pitcher Sean Marshall as part of package to acquire Indians ace C.C. Sabathia has intensified now that that Sabathia has been acquired by the Brewers. Rich Harden now comes into focus as the new Cubs objective.

-The Braves will recall Jeff Francoeur tonight after he went 7-13 in Double-A. -The Cubs will step up their efforts to acquire a starting pitcher after the Brewers recent deal, including targets Rich Harden and Randy Wolf. -Curt Schilling is still undecided on whether he will play baseball again.

So many diehard Cubs fans hitting up this site...they need their own thread to talk trades.  As you know, the Cubs hope to add a starter this month. Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times echoes the common sentiment that the Cubs probably don't have the young players needed to acquire C.C. Sabathia .  I mentioned in today's chat that I thought the only way the Cubs could be ...