Cubs Pursuing Harden In Wake Of Sabathia Deal

Not that the Phillies have any chance in a Harden conversation either.

I think both teams would turn to Burnett now as the more realistic option in terms of prospect cost

Get Harden and show the da** brewers fans that the cubs are the team to beat. Please do not get Randy Wolf

I have also heard Zach Greinke and Gil Meche.

Looked it up, Hudson, 32, makes 13 mio in 2009 with a 12 mio mutual option for 2010 (1 mio buyout).

Duchscherer, 31, is arb eligible in 2009 and FA after

with harden's durability problems he value ins't as high as you would think

Harden's also controllable for 2009 (7 mio club option, arb eligible if declined).

This is a pretty appealing contract situation for the acquiring team, he'll be only a one year commitment so if he gets hurt again he's off the books next offseason. He's also been one of the top 3-5 pitchers in the AL this year pretty much all year, high-end #1 performance.

I'd think he'd command the most out of any of the "available" guys being discussed on here, including Bedard, Burnett, Duchscherer, Hudson, even Greinke (he's a close 2nd though)

I think Wayne has the idea leading up to the deadline. Harden might prove to be too pricey for the Cubs or some other teams. Then it turns to names I am not thrilled to see coming here.

What are the A's looking for position wise? I know they questions at 2B since Ellis a free agent after the season.
After they drafted Jemile Weeks I don't know if they want Eric Patterson. Still, Weeks will probably be in the minors for 2-3 after so maybe he can fit.

Vitters is literally the singular player the Cubs have that the A's would want/need.

A more realistic way for this to happen would be to get a 3rd involved for the Cubs to end up with Harden. Their farm system is cashed out and full of 27 year olds, no thanks.

Blanton is overrated. Let some other team overpay for that guy.

As a lifetime cubs fan i can honestly say i would be fine with giving up some top prospects like Gallagher, Vitters, Colvin, Pie in order to get a great pitcher like Harden to back Big Z up. We have the run support and offense to get to the world series and win it. However we may have the pitching to get to or near the world series but we do not have that guy who can go out after big Z and shut em down. PLease go out and GET HARDEN!

I think if Harden gets moved, the package the A's get back for him will be better than what the Indians got for CC. Mostly because of the additional year of fairly cheap controllability

I don't exactly see why the A's "need to" trade Harden. They are 3.5 out of the WC, and actually have a better ExWL than LAA or MIN. Plus they can afford him pretty easily for next year

"I think if Harden gets moved, the package the A's get back for him will be better than what the Indians got for CC. Mostly because of the additional year of fairly cheap controllability

I don't exactly see why the A's "need to" trade Harden. They are 3.5 out of the WC, and actually have a better ExWL than LAA or MIN. Plus they can afford him pretty easily for next year"

Exactly. People are acting like the A's are 20 games back and Harden will leave at the end of the year. The A's are right in the thick of a divisional and wildcard race, and Harden is signed reasonably for 2009.

The A's are under no pressure to trade Harden and Beane will certainly not trade him for a bunch of cast offs just for the sake of making a deal. However I don't really see the Cubs as an ideal trade partner either. Apart from Josh Vitters I can't really see too many pieces that would match with what the A's need.

Harden's injury history will no doubt make a lot of teams wary about giving up a kings ransom for him, but when he is fit and on his game he is one of the best pitchers in the majors. This year he has a 2.34 ERA, 162 ERA+ and 92 Ks in 77 IP.

Harden would be an excellent player to have in any short series providing he is fit. Interested teams will need to decision whether this out weighs the risk. My guess is someone will give Beane what he wants, otherwise the A's will keep him and take the chance that he stays fit.

I was listening to ESPN radio and they said that Jim Hendry and Billy Beane are good friends and love making trades together. Maybe he won't make us overpay.
They also said Cubs need to make a deal and Harden is the closest answer to what the Brewers have done in getting Sabathia.

Also, if someone said that Cubs have a prospect named Casey Mcgehee the A's would take him if they have problems their. I heard they might be rebuilding because thats why they are traded Haren and trading Haren and Blanton. Also, Crosby Chavez Brown Gaudin Duscherer and street have all been rumored to be traded. And what I've found out what their needs are this'
Relief pitchers
Starters
2B
3B
C
LF
and cubs could fill that void.
Sean Marshall/ Rich Hill/ Donnie Veal/ Kevin Hart
Rp- Jose Ceda/ Jeff Samardzija/ Chris Huseby
C- Welington Castilo/ Josh Donaldson/ Jake Fox
2B- Eric Patterson/ Mike Fontenot
3B- Casey Mcgehee/ Josh Vitters
LF- Matt Murton also Patterson could play here too.

so we do have people to get this deal done and anyone who says not is just being ignorant.

The Cubs could trade Sean Gallagher to the Braves for Brent Lillibridge, then flip Lillibridge along with Josh Vitters and Jose Ceda for Rich Harden. I also am a little weary about injury, but I don't care what happens next year if we win the world series this year!

there is almost no reason to start throwing out names billy beane may want in return for rich harden. he somehow finds a way to find undervalued minor leaguers whom aren't on people's radars. The supposed side additions in the Haren trade, Eveland and Smith, are having great years, and look to be pretty legitamate.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you can't count any team as "out" when trading with Beane because he seems to use his own talent judgement system, rather than going with the sexy names.

TEAM W L % GB
Chicago 53 36 .596 -
Milwaukee 49 39 .557 3.5
St. Louis 50 40 .556 3.5
Cincinnati 43 47 .478 10.5
Houston 41 48 .461 12.0
Pittsburgh 40 47 .460 12.0

-who is in first?

CUB fans, why are you all freaking out? Our staff is great the way it is. Sure a Harden of Burnett deal would be nice, but if it doesnt work out, dont worry.

Z is back, Demps is pitching great, we know what Lilly can do and what he has done recently, Marquis has wone 4 of last 5 starts, Gallagher had a great last outting. We are good, we got this division! GO CUBS!

i dont see the cubs not winning the division. Our offense is amazing and our pitching looks amazing.

FYI- Look who we get before or shortly after the break! SORIANO

redsfan:

Welcome to Wrigley Field the next 3 days.

nrmax:

Your Mets look really good. Why don't you just stay out of Cubs' posts, you smell, thanks!

"They got a pitcher who play ONE OUT OF FIVE days. How can he help them win the 4 days he doesnt play? cant wait to see the answers"

im a cubs fan and i think that is a very ignorant statement. if we lost zambrano for the season (who only pitches every five days!) it would definitely hurt our chances of making the playoffs, so wouldn't adding a cy young pitcher help to push the brewers into contention? not to mention in the playoffs when he would be pitching once every three days.

Seems everyone has the knowledge and know how of a big league GM. Please remember a prospect is just that a "prospect". When Milwaukee landed last years American League Cy Young Award winner and the opportinty for post season for a couple "prospects"........I think thats a great move on the Brewers part. How many so-called "prospects" are still mulling around in single A ball?........Lets not forget the differences between a proven major leaguer and a "prosepct"

Another HUGE question will be : will sheets stay healthy? He has a past of being on the DL

Friends or not, Beane owes Hendry nothing and Hendry owes Beane nothing. They both owe their respected employers and teams they work for the best possible deal they can get. That being said, I am on the fence with this rumor. I can see it happening or not happening for a few reasons.

Btw, BC is right on target with his post.

It appears some of you Cubs fans are only posting because you are trying to piss off other people, daring people to disagree? Well I disagree with many of you, and with respect to a couple logical thinking Cubs fans, you are not all idiots.

First, Beane is not giving away Harden. He will trade Harden assuming he will remain healthy. If you want one of the best pitchers in baseball, be prepared to pay. If you think he will get hurt, I guarantee you will not offer enough to get him.

To comment on one post, Chicago NEEDS Harden because this is the best chance they have had in many years, and Harden/Zambrano gives them a hell of a good chance at the WS. Oakland is already going to be good next year, with Harden, they might be great. So again, be prepared to pay, Oakland doesn't need to trade him.

What does Oakland need? Vitters will have to be included. Ceda and Gallagher might get it done. Beane might also want a player to improve his team currently, which might bring Marmol in the picture. I don't think the Cubs have enough, but Hendry should be willing to trade his entire farm in order to bring the Cubs a WS, and Beane knows this.

And last comment, Beane is not looking to pick out unknown prospects from the Cubs for Harden. That is what he does when trading away garbage, or looking for more players to make a big deal bigger. Eveland and Smith didn't make the Haren trade, Gonzales/Anderson made the trade, but knowing he was getting two other prospects in Carter and Cunningham, and a couple hit or miss pitchers, that only helped.

Ok since eveyrone is telling me Gallagher will have to be in the deal I ask the one person who was mostly on the same page with me last night.
Cubs Land. Do you think we could get Harden without trading Gallagher? Or do you think we could pull it off without him.
I say
Vitters
Ceda
Patterson
Marshall
and possibly another low A baller will get it done.

Id love to see us go out and get Harden...I've always thought when healthy he was one of the top 5 pitchers in MLB....but then again so was Mark Prior, but how often have either of them been healthy to see if those spots of brilliance can stretch out into something a team can depend on.

Harden has looked great in '08 so far but how reliable can he be for a team in a tight race for a playoff spot in what has surprisingly turned out to be the best division in MLB(or at least 2nd to AL East)?

Burnett brings the same questions but still a great pitcher to throw in the rotation. Wolf doesn't really give you much of an upgrade from Gallagher or Marshall.

Too bad Rich Hill couldn't have been half the player he was last season...then this would be a non issue.

Pitching wins championships. Maybe not divisions, but it does win championships.
For those of you that don't understand this, Doug Melvin made the CC trade thinking of october. THe hope here in brewer land is that even if we don't win the division, this team will have enough to land the wildcard. And in the playoffs, when you have 2 aces on your staff, you become an extremely dangerous team.
As a Brewer fan, I'm just hoping this team can get into the playoffs. You can try to defend the fact that the cubs have a better team overall and i probably wouldn't disagree. But would you really want to face this brewer team now in a best of 5 game series where you're going to have to face at least one if not both aces twice?
I think it's funny reading all these comments about how the CC deal shouldn't matter, the cubs have the better team. You are right. But this deal makes the brewers a better playoff team.
Cubsland, your posts are the most comical. Sometimes I think you play way too much MLB2k8...what's next, the cubs acquiring Utley, Hanley Ramirez and Papelbon??? haha

Wermser, I think that's exactly right. The Santana and Haren deals have shown that a good 1-2 punch doesn't mean as much during the regular season. The rest of the team has to pull their weight. The Brewers will still have to pick it up a notch to catch the Cubs...but if they do make the playoffs, even as a wildcard, they might just be the most dangerous team come playoff time. I never thought I'd say this but, as a Cubs fan, I may start rooting for those Cardinals to help ward the Brewers off and get the wildcard spot!

"But any Harden deal would have to at least approach last winter's Dan Haren extravaganza.

A reminder: Baseball America ranked Carlos Gonzalez as the game's #22 prospect, and Brett Anderson was #36. The Cubs don't have two players like that. Then add Greg Smith and Dana Eveland, who have combined for a 3.52 ERA in 207 innings this year. Oh, and toss in Chris Carter and Aaron Cunningham for good measure. That was a haul, even for an ace like Haren."

What the D'Backs paid for Haren was stupid and even Beane knows that. Arizone over estimated the quality of their everyday line up and thought they were one starter short. Thing is Haren wouldn't even be considered an ace at the time of the deal. He is pitching that way now but the loss of all that minor league talenmt and Carlos Quentin has screwed them.

If Beane thinks he's going to pull the wool over some one's eyes again, this time for an oft inquired pitcher, he'll be left holding Harden at the deadline. Which may be the right move for him considering their record.

"...he'll be left holding Harden at the deadline. Which may be the right move for him considering their record."

Makes you wonder why Beane would even consider trading him, doesn't it? My worst fear is that he'll fleece the Cubs for prospects knowing that Harden isn't going to hold up any way. The Cubs should show some discretion here. There are other options if the price gets too high. Bedard's value has to be low enough to where the Cubs shouldn't have to give up the farm. If not, the Cubs should take a flyer on Burnett or Wolf -- if it comes cheap. They are both talented guys who have underachieved. Lou said he'd like a lefty to offset his righty dominated bullpen, so Bedard and Wolf make the most sense right now...but if Wolf doesn't get better fast, it's hard to believe he'll be much of an upgrade over what Sean Marshall has done recently.

They are going for Harden. I have no problem having guys like Vitters and Veal part of that package. We'll see.

A trade was made for...

Let me change "crappy players" to "mediocre". Gallagher wasn't bad, but I've been a Cubs fan for too long to see him ever becoming a star in the Cubs organization. Now that he's traded maybe he will.

The nice thing about Harden is that even if his arm ends up having durability issues like Kerry Wood's, he could always be salvaged by being turned into a star closer, and the Cubs could trade either him or Wood for another stud. Hopefully, he'll stay healthy and be helpful this year.

Ha...just looking back and there are SO many cubs haters that made themselves look real, real dumb.