Harden a Cubs Pitcher

Comcast SportsNet is reporting that the Cubs have acquired Rich Harden from the A's for Sean Gallagher, Josh Donaldson, Eric Patterson, and Matt Murton. 

Jim Hendry is speaking to the media now and explains that he had been working for a month and seriously for about 10 days with Billy Beane to get it done.   The price when you consider just Gallagher and Donaldson is a tad steep, but Hendry gets it done.  Thoughts? 

• This is still pending a physical, and apparently there is concern about Rich Harden having a dead arm after his last start.
• Sean Gallagher is the centerpiece of this deal, and rightfully so. He doesn't turn 23 until New Year's Eve, and has proven he's ready to pitch at the big league level. At that canyon they have out in Oakland, he should fair just fine. He was moved to the bullpen anyway, so his impact this year was going to be minute. With the amount of young, upcoming arms the Cubs have, they won't miss him too much.
  
• Josh Donaldson was a sandwich pick last year, and despite disappointing numbers at low-A Peoria, he should have a bright future. Scouts love his swing. With the Geovany Soto secured behind the plate for years to come, Donaldson did not have a future with the Cubs.
  
• Eric Patterson has promise, but at times looked lost out in the field. A low pressure environment should suit him well.
• We finally found a suitor for Matt Murton. I hope he gets regular playing time for them; he deserves it.
• Chad Gaudin was added into the deal. I'm not sure what his role will be. We already have Jon Lieber as our long man. He's only 25, and despite command problems in the past, a move to the bullpen this year seems to have suited him well.
• Rich Harden is extremely affordable for the amount of upside he has. He's making $4.5 million this year, with a $7 million club option for next year with no buyout. He also has the stuff to be a difference maker. Carlos Zambrano, Harden, Ryan Dempster, and Ted Lilly make for a very good playoff rotation.
• All told, the Athletics probably got a better package from the Cubs than the Indians got from the Brewers. They did not receive a player of Matt LaPorta's quality, but they got 3 major league ready players in their early-to-mid 20's, plus an up-and-coming catcher. This enables them to still compete this year.
• Jim Hendry pulled the trigger on this deal today to send a message to the Brewers. Just when Milwaukee thought they were picking up momentum, Jim shot them back down. Well done.