A day after division rival Milwaukee landed CC Sabathia in a trade with Cleveland, the Chicago Cubs landed their own ace in a six-player deal with Oakland, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday evening. The NL Central-leading Cubs hold suit with the Brewers and get a significant boost to their rotation for the low, low cost of four prospects.

Though he changes teams and changes leagues, health remains the key to Harden’s success. When healthy, he has some of the most dominating stuff in baseball. Harden leaves Oakland with a 5-1 record, 2.34 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 77 innings, but had pitched just 72.1 combined innings in the 2006-07 seasons because of back, elbow and shoulder injuries.

The Cubs, already sporting the National League’s best record and third-best pitching staff (in terms of ERA), add another ace to a rotation that also includes Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Jason Marquis. Left-hander Sean Marshall is likely the odd man out to make room for Harden.

Marshall and Chad Gaudin, who was also acquired from Oakland, will add premium depth to the Cubs’ bullpen.

Similar to the Sabathia deal, the Cubs traded away quality talent but were not required to overhaul their system to acquire Harden. Clubs continue to learn a lesson from the Braves’ 2007 midseason trade for Mark Teixeira, in which they dealt premium prospects shortstop Elvis Andrus and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia for a one-year rental. The cost of doing business has been considerably lower this July.

According to the AP, Oakland received pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson in the deal. Gallagher entered the season as Chicago’s No. 5 prospect, according to Baseball America, while Donaldson checked in at No. 7 and Patterson at No. 10. The 26-year old Murton has bounced back and forth between Chicago and Triple-A Iowa, recording a .294 average in 870 career at-bats.

Fantasy Spin
This is a boost to Harden’s value, but again, like Sabathia, the benefits are subtle. He changes to a lighter hitting league and gets a better supporting cast, but Harden is the type of pitcher that it almost doesn’t matter. When he’s right, he’s a lock for a sub-3.00 ERA and hefty strikeouts totals.

On the A’s side of the ledger, Beane has indicated that Gallagher was the focal point of the deal. Considering Oakland’s ability to identify and develop young pitchers, fantasy owners should take a look at Gallagher when he makes his first start this Friday. He likely won’t have much use in mixed leagues this season, but in AL-only and keeper leagues he is worth monitoring.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.