This was a great deal for the Chubs. Gallagher appears to be the only guy they gave up with a big future. Harden is completely dominant (moreso than Sabathia) when healthy, and Gaudin is a useful arm, too.

Perhaps second place is still in reach, but this move undoubtedly puts the Cubs pretty far out of reach.

That is all I can really say about this trade. As shrewd as Beane is, I wonder what he was thinking on this one. Murton is probably better than he gets credit for, but isn’t exactly a world beater. Gallagher is pretty solid. Other than that…not exactly awe-inspiring. In return, the Flubs get about the nastiest guy in baseball, plus Gaudin who is a legit mid-rotation arm. The Cubs just added a ton to their rotation…Z, Harden, Lilly, Gaudin and Demptster looks pretty tough to me.

In my mind, the Cards have to just tread water till Waino can pitch again and then go from there. Mo must realize that this team is set up fairly well for the next few seasons, and dumping Rasmus and/or Garcia for a rental would not be a terribly good move. Furthermore, the Cubs and Crew have clearly “gone for it” over the past year and a half, so while it may stink to sit on the sidelines and watch them knock heads it may be better to let just that happen.

he’s only made 26 starts in the last three years combined and half of those were this year. he’s already been on the DL once this year and the next trip is coming soon i’m sure.

beane’s a smart man and it seems to me he was taking the first good offer there was before the other shoe dropped.

every single comment i’ve seen about this trade always has the “if/when” harden is healthy.

it also makes me extremely happy that while the cards future keeps getting brighter the cubs keeps getting dimmer.

reeks of knee jerk. The Cubs know that they are getting older, with big contracts, and an ownership group in question. THEY HAVE TO WIN NOW…next year, they’re another year older and deeper in debt. The Brewers don’t have to win now – they’d like to, but they have another two years or so before they get to free agent hell.

Look – Harden gives them what – 16 starts in the 2nd half? If he’s healthy? That’s 16 chances where they increase their odds of winning – but baseball is a funny game in that the odds of winning don’t always play out.

Stay the course Mo!!! Play competitive baseball all year long and develop the youngsters. Don’t keep up the up with the Joneses and potentially sacrifice years of good yound cheap talent for a rental. 1 year of potential greatness is not worth 4 years of mediocre, inept baseball.

... Harden goes on the DL soon. he was missing 4-7 MPH from his fastball in his last start. that’s not a good sign for a guy with so many injuries.

BUT Harden is under contract next season for a relatively cheap $7mn. the Brewers are likely gonna lose Sheets and Sabathia next year, but the Cards will need to add at least one solid arm to keep pace next season.

Does this mean the Mark Ellis in Oakland era could be ending soon? He would be a nice player to acquire to play 2nd for the Cards and may not cost a ton since Beane already has a replacement. This trade could benefit the Cards more than the Cubs if things play out.

my # 1 baseball yacking buddy is a wool-dyed Oakland fan, as I am a Cards’ fan. Haven’t talked to him yet, but previously every time Harden was mentioned, he winced. He would always say “we’ve been trying to trade him and we WILL trade him when the deal is right.”

I don’t remember specifics (could possibly be the oft-injured thing, as in you ‘can’t count on him’ distemper) but in any case I don’t expect my friend to be sad to see Harden go.

being the underdog is nothing new for our team…the Brewers and Cubs were supposed to be miles better than the Cards going into this season, and we see what has happened…I don’t think it takes a blockbuster, gut-the-system kind of trade to keep the Cards in this thing…I DO think we have to do something to keep up, even with the injured pitchers returning at some point, but I remain optimistic…maybe seeing Piniero outduel Hamels tonight and Looper staying close with Zambrano the other night makes me feel that these guys are going to take it to even the best pitchers in the National League…they won’t score eight runs a night, but good defense and above average starting pitching might be enough.

Id concede the year.
I feel bad for the players who played their hearts out but its clear this team didnt intend to compete seriously this year and they just dont have the players… too many holes to fill

LHP
SP
one more bat,
something in SS and 2B

they could probably fill one of those but they would still be better off waiting till next year when they can hopefully expect a fully recovered Carpenter and Waino, as well as Rasmus (who should be an impact bat, if not a star), as well as a FA SS or 2B…heaven knows they should have the money after the contracts come off the books at the end of the year. Perez should have some experiance and they could get help from other minor leaguers.

Still I think compatition could be tough next year if the Cubs keep Harden ( i dont know his contract status) and if the Brewers find a way to keep Sabbathia.
their rotations would be every bit as good as our if not better and their hitting projects to be better still.

Id personally advocate a team like this

furcal
rasmus
pujols
Ludwick
Glaus
Ankiel
Molina
Pitcher
Kennedy

or maybe we pick up Hudson and cabrera and ditch kennedy (though I doubt this)

Heck I somehow doubt we get any decent FAs most of the time, but I think this could be a year they step up.

They could also get a LHRP in FA, like the guy from Pit
though I think he may be a type A FA at the end of the year.

I dont know if they re sign Loshe or make a play for Burnett or not

right now I suppose the rotation would look like this

Carp
Waino
welly
pineiro
looper/loshe/fa/prospect

i may have been a little down when I wrote that, but in essance thats what this year was: a conceded year… a transition year. The team said “Our best shot is 2009 and beyond, lets let this year play out and just see what happens, but lets set up for the close future”

we arnt that good of a team this year we dont need to pull any stupid moves that would ruin us for the future or next year.

sometimes you have to pick your spots. It doesnt mean they shouldnt play hard, but even if we pull off a miracle and get a holliday… we still arnt as good as the Cubs or the Sox really.

out pen is terrible and we would be counting on two injured pitchers to hold up, as well as Loshe having a career year, and wellemierers elbow, and Ludwick keeping up an all star pace…

Not saying dont play or try just not to make a dumb despiration move and screw us for years to come.

I dont see why people are thinking this team is one player away from world series glory either