Harden & Gaudin Traded

[TSC25]

Cubs Acquire Rich Harden, Chad Gaudin
By Tim Dierkes [July 8 at 5:25pm CST]
5:36pm: The Cubs' press release is out. The Cubs get Harden and Chad Gaudin for Gallagher, Murton, Patterson, and catching prospect Josh Donaldson.

[TSC25]

Sean Gallagher, rhp Born: Dec. 30, 1985 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 225
Drafted: HS—Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 2004 (12th round) • Signed by: Rolando Pino
Background: Most clubs considered Gallagher unsignable in the 2004 draft, but the Cubs nabbed him with a 12th-round pick and a $60,000 bonus. He has been a bargain, reaching double figures in wins in each of his three full seasons, going a combined 36-15 in the minors, and making his major league debut in June at age 21.

Strengths: Gallagher has added fastball velocity since signing, going from 88-90 mph in 2005 to 90-94 last season, and he can spot his heater wherever he wants. It has surpassed his 11-to-5 curveball as his best pitch, though his bender is tough when he tightens it up and throws it in the upper 70s. His changeup is an effective third pitch and he mixes his offerings well. His mound presence never has been in question.

Weaknesses: Gallagher can get into trouble with the softer version of his curveball, which arrives at 69-74 mph. Typical of most rookies, he nibbled too much in his first taste of the majors. He'll have to watch the weight on his stocky frame, though dropping 10 pounds while in the Arizona Fall League is a good sign.

The Future: In spring training, Gallagher will get the chance to win a spot as a No. 5 starter or long reliever. Spending most of 2008 at Triple-A as a 22-year-old wouldn't be a setback, however. He has the makings of a No. 3 starter along the lines of Jon Lieber.

2007 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Tennessee (AA)
7 2 3.39
11 11 0 0 61 54 3 24 54 .233
Iowa (AAA)
3 1 2.66 8 8 0 0 41
33 1 13 37 .232
Chicago Cubs (MLB)
0 0 8.59 8 0 0 1 15
19 3 12 5 .317

[TSC25]

Josh Donaldson, c Born: Dec. 8, 1985 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 195
Drafted: Auburn, 2007 (1st round supplemental) • Signed by: Bob Rossi
Background: Previously a third baseman, Donaldson started catching as a sophomore at Auburn in 2006. The position shift and a strong summer in the Cape Cod League sent his draft stock skyrocketing, and he went 48th overall in June. After signing for $652,500, he rated as the short-season Northwest League's top position prospect and led the circuit with a .470 on-base percentage.

Strengths: Donaldson provides more offense and athleticism than most catchers. He's aggressive and looks to pull pitches for power early in counts, but he also adjusts when pitchers get ahead of him, shortening his stroke and using the opposite field. He controls the strike zone and projects as a .280 hitter with 15-20 homers per season. He has slightly above-average arm strength and threw out 38 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. His speed is average.

Weaknesses: His inexperience shows behind the plate, though the Cubs believe he'll become a solid defender in time. He committed 11 passed balls in 45 games and sometimes hurried his release and undermined his arm strength. He made progress in both areas during the summer.

The Future: Chicago has built up its catching depth, so it may take things slow with Donaldson and let him concentrate o his work behind the plate. He'll probably open 2008 in low Class A.

2007 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
AZL Cubs (R)
.182 .308 .364 11 1 2 2 0 0 0 2
4 0
Boise (SS)
.346 .470 .605 162 37 56 11 2 9 35 37 34 6

[TSC25]

Eric Patterson, 2b Born: April 8, 1983 • B-T: L-R • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 170
Drafted: Georgia Tech, 2004 (8th round) • Signed by: Sam Hughes
Background: His older brother Corey may have played his way out of Chicago, but Eric is firmly in the club's plans. An eighth-round pick who signed for fourth-round money ($300,000) in 2004, he won the low Class A Midwest League batting title in his first pro season and reached Triple-A in his second. He led the Arizona Fall League with 15 steals and batted .345.

Strengths: Manager rated him the best baserunner in the Southern League last year, as Patterson has plus speed and good instincts. He hits for a solid average and has surprising pop for his size. Scouts see him as a less explosive version of Delino DeShields.

Weaknesses: There are a lot of questions about whether Patterson can play second base in the major leagues. He has made improvements but still has a long way to go. He relies on his speed rather than reading balls off the bat, and he doesn't have great range to his right. His plate discipline is just fair and he sometimes gets caught up in trying to hitting homers, compromising his ability to get on base and use his speed.

The Future: Though he'll remain at second base for now, Patterson spent some time in center field during instructional league and could become a super utilityman along the lines of Chone Figgins or Ryan Freel. The free-agent signing of Mark DeRosa will buy Patterson at least a half-season in Triple-A, but he's still the Cubs' second baseman of the future.

[HMFFL]

To land the pair, the Cubs had to part with Murton, a former top prospect who has yet to live up to his billing. In his fourth season, Murton has shuttled between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago. He’s hitting .250 in 40 at-bats.

They also traded the right-handed Gallagher, who is 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 12 games, including 10 starts, in his second season.

Patterson, the brother of Corey Patterson, was sent to the minors on July 3, the fourth time this year he’s been sent down. An outfielder who can also play second base, Patterson was hitting .237 with a homer and seven RBIs in 38 at-bats with the big league club.

Donaldson, a catcher for Class A Peoria, was hitting .217 with six homers.

“You’re not getting a guy like this without it hurting a little bit,” Hendry said.

Link

[mroberts213]

I know I have questioned trades by Beane in the past and been wrong but this one hurts! I mean Harden has a year left and we threw in Gaudin.... How highly regarded are the prospects we got back? I mean are they better than the minor league talent we already have? From the info I have read i find it hard to believe they will ever see playing time, exculding Gal, because of the talent we already have at the postions.

[FNQ]

As was pointed out by every outlet...

How often is Rich Harden healthy this late into the season? We'd only have next year to recoup some value on him... and from what we saw last night, Gallagher appears to be a solid #3, maybe #2... the analysis coming from ESPN being a #3 at best... We always get value from these trades... Corey Lidle, Chad Gaudin, hell even Lenny DiNardo had a great half season w/us...

Murton's the prize here I think... I dont know where he is on the arbitration scale but as Chavy/Blanton/Harden start coming off the books, we'll be able to resign him if he does well...

I am Beane's rebuilding effort here.... if only my 2 other favorite teams (W's/Raiders) would really commit to the rebuilding like Beane did and let the cards fall as they may, we'd all be in better shape.

[TSC25]

I agree with Reggae,Rich hasnt been heathly for us so why not get something for him why we still can. And it lets us get our younger pitchers more time this year,like Peter Gammons said 2008 wasnt suppose to be the A's year,and were still in this with all the younger players,it's only gonna make us better.