From the Associated Press:

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Rich Harden
from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player trade on Tuesday, a day
after the rival Milwaukee Brewers landed CC Sabathia.

The Cubs received the right-handed Harden and righty Chad Gaudin
for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric
Patterson, and minor leaguer John Donaldson.

"We've been working on Mr. Harden for a few weeks now," Cubs
general manager Jim Hendry said.

Harden, scheduled to be a free agent after the 2009 season, is
5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season. He's scheduled to
$4.75 million this season.

The oft-injured righty missed a month earlier this season
because of a right shoulder strain. It was his sixth trip to the
disabled list in his six-year career.

The Cubs said they expected Harden would join the team
Wednesday.

"We hope to pitch him one time before the break," Hendry said.

Hendry said the trade was not a reaction to the Sabathia trade
by the Brewers, who were four games behind the NL Central-leading
Cubs heading into Tuesday night.

"Our mode all year is we're trying to get better," he said.

Chicago also received Gaudin, who was 5-3 win a 3.59 ERA in 26
games -- including six starts. Last season, he was a starter all
season and went 11-13 with a 4.42 ERA.

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 Single A Peoria, was hitting .217 with
six homers.

"You're not getting a guy like this without it hurting a little
bit," Hendry said.

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