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 Chicago traded RHP Sean Gallagher, OFs Matt Murton, 2B Eric Patterson, and single-A catcher Josh Donaldson to the Athletics 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 already logged 10 starts (and two relief appearances) for the Cubs, with a 49:22 K:BB ratio in 58.2 innings, and a 4.45 ERA. He ranked 71st on Keith Law's top 100 prospects in the preseason, with Law noting he has a "good chance to end up a solid No. 4 in the majors". That might not sound like much, but the fact that he's already pitching in the majors, and thus the probability of him being a meaningful contributor is quite high, makes him a valuable asset at age 22.
Being a Cubs prospect, Eric Patterson has been incessantly fiddled with, having started the year at AAA and already been up and down twice. Though 25, and without a particularly high ceiling, he has hit well at Iowa, with a .323/.356/.519 line, and 10 stolen bases in 10 opportunities. With Mark Ellis' contract expiring at the end of this season, Patterson may be his replacement.
Murton has experienced a similarly hectic year, although he hadn't yet been sent down after being recalled for a second time. He has seen very limited playing time while with the Cubs, playing in 19 games but only getting more than two PAs in six. In Chicago he's struggled, with a line of .250/.286/.300. He has fared much better in more regular playing time at Iowa, batting .298/.397/.382. In 690 PAs with the Cubs in 06-07, he posted an OPS of 102. At 26, he's not going to get all that much better, and immediately jumps into Oakland's crowded outfield mix.
The final piece is Josh Donaldson, who was 76th on Law's top 100 in February. That paints a very optimistic portrait of the catcher, as he's struggled terribly in low-A this season, hitting .223/.282/.358.
Beane is buying low on the latter two, and probably selling high on Harden. He has made 11 consecutive starts, the first time he's done that since mid-2005 (that was a streak of 12 starts). His velocity was reportedly down around 87-89 two starts ago, and he complained of a dead arm. He struggled with his command--issuing four walks in five innings--in his most recent start on Sunday. So one has to wonder about his current health, as the A's would have more knowledge of that than anyone else. Or they may just think he's inevitably going to break down in the near future. Harden's contract contains a $7MM club option for 2009.
Whether Sabathia was traded "too early" is (clearly) debatable, but if Beane was going to trade Harden, sooner seems much preferred to later. The whole point of trading him is to unload risk; if that's your goal, there's not a whole lot of sense in risking him getting injured in the next three weeks.
Not to be overlooked is Gaudin, a 25-year old who has made six starts and 20 relief appearances this year. In 62.2 innings he has put up a 44:17 K:BB ratio, and has a 3.59 ERA. Though still relatively young, he made his major league debut with Tampa at 20, so he is only controlled through 2010.
4 comments:
Fantastic Post. The entire city of Chicago is high on life right now with the general consensus being that Hendry pulled a fast one on Beane.
It's pretty comical. Leave it to the Cubs to pin their hopes on a right handed flame thrower with a major injury history.
I don't blame Hendry for making the deal especially considering he didn't have to give up too much, although I suppose it is relative because this all he really had, but either way this has heartbreak written all over it.
Your first paragraph has the trade backwards. You have Oakland trading Gallagher, etc to the Cubs for Harden and Gaudin.
As an A's fan, I can admit that after every start where Harden wasn't removed because of an injury I silently hoped he would get traded. I can't believe the A's got so many starts from him this year, and would be surprised if the Cubs got more than a month before he misses a start. Sorry Cubs fans, but be ready for frustration and disappointment.
Not a bad risk for the Cubs, especially because they can probably afford to pamper Harden to the rest of the season/post-season. But why does everybody assume he'll suddenly be healthy? Great job by Beane for trading him after a streak of consecutive starts. Certainly not a white-flag move by Oakland as many are claiming.
As for the return, none of those guys project as stars, but Murton and Gallagher are clearly league-average, and Patterson could be if he continues to his and/or learns to field at second base. Three league-average, cost-controlled players in return for an injury-plagued starter? I'd take it.
the timing of the sabathia deal couldnt have been more perfect for oakland. i feel like the harden trade was reactionary by the cubs... like they had lost ground without a game ever being played.
i was intially surprised that gaudin was traded but then i figured gallagher and gaudin are probably pretty much the same player except gallagher is younger. in other words, he's gaudin 4 years ago.
we all knew it would happen just who would take the bait... cubs fans keep your fingers crossed.
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