A Cubs fan's reaction

My first reaction when I saw the breaking news on the bottom line of “SportsCenter” was disbelief. I had just read from an “insider” on ESPN that Harden would be auctioned off within the next few weeks to the highest bidder. After seeing what the Cubs gave up on July 8, 3 weeks before the deadline, I couldn’t believe it. The only two players in the deal from the Cubs’ side that I see playing a significant role on a Major league team are Eric Patterson and Sean Gallagher. Gallagher is not going to be a long reliever like Jeff claimed, but he will not be a frontline starter. The Orioles were looking to trade Brian Roberts in spring training to Chicago in return for a package built around Gallagher, so the A’s aren’t the only team that found promise with him. Murton could be a bottom of the order, spot starter in the future, but he has never lived up to the hype he got when coming from Boston in 2004. What I like about this deal is that Harden will be a Cub next year as well, assuming the Cubs pick up his option. I like the playoff rotation of Zambrano-Harden-Dempster-Lilly, assuming Harden stays healthy, and that’s a HUGE if. Gaudin is not a bad pick up, he is a pretty good reliever and is only 25. The Cubs needed to pick up a reliever who can take care of lefties, and, although a righty, Gaudin pitches well against left-handers.