A's Deal Harden to Cubs

The Athletics have agreed to send pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Cubs.  In return, Oakland will receive highly-touted starter Sean Gallagher and former top prospect Matt Murton along with Eric "Corey's Brother" Patterson and minor leaguer Josh Donaldson.

With the Brewers' acquisition of C.C. Sabathia yesterday, Cubs GM Jim Hendry no doubt felt increasing pressure to add another power arm to contend in the NL Central.  However, Hendry tried to dispel any notions of this being a reactionary move, claiming that the clubs had been in serious talks for several weeks.

Cubs Forced to Look Elsewhere for Pitcher

Broadly circulated speculation that the Cubs had offered young pitcher Sean Marshall as part of package to acquire Indians ace C.C. Sabathia has intensified now that that Sabathia has been acquired by the Brewers.

Rich Harden now comes into focus as the new Cubs objective.

Sabathia Deal Spotlights Lance Berkman Trade

A vague and ephemeral MLB rumor that the Astros have been contemplating dealing All-Star slugger Lance Berkman to the Angels for rising first baseman Casey Kotchman has been thrown into sharp relief in the upheaval following the Brewers acquisition of ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia from the Indians.

Though the validity of the rumor has never been established, the prospect of the trade becomes much more probable now that the Brewers have emerged as the prohibitive favorite to win the National League Central Division, or at least secure a wildcard berth, at the expense of the Astros as much as anyone.

Key to the proposition will be the team's determination of whether the Astros can remain competive this year, or should begin peeling off pieces such as Berkman, Carlos Lee, Roy Oswalt, Miguel Tejada and others in exchange for prospects and younger talent. If it was not already a clear choice with the Astros a dozen games off the pace, the Sabathia deal should make it painfully obvious.

Just exactly what the Astros are thinking will be recognizable in the play of veteran infielder-outfielder Darin Erstad, who after a number of years of difficulty staying healthy is playing excellent baseball offensively and defensively and should be heavily relied upon if the Astros expect to climb back into the pennant race.

If Astros owner Drayton McLane is inclined to punt, however, then Erstad will probably lose playing time to younger players whom the team will attempt to further acclimate to the big-league environment.

Ironically, an ongoing team poll of fans had nearly half of the participatants urging the Astros to carry on rather than reconfigure.

Report: Brewers Land Sabathia

The Brewers and Indians have agreed to a deal that will send C.C. Sabathia, the reigning AL Cy Young winner to Milwaukee.  Cleveland will receive a package of minor leaguers centered around top prospect Matt LaPorta.

Cubs Likely Indians Partner in C.C. Sabathia Trade

It's just so much window dressing now, those lofty Indians pretensions that the team is still competing for a playoff berth this year. Bet on it: the front office inner sanctum is all but ready to trade ace C.C. Sabathia -- in all likelihood to the Cubs -- and get on with a mini-rebuilding plan.

The loss of starting pitchers Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona to the disabled list -- not to mention the lackluster performances of Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner and others -- have only accelerated the need to deal the Sabathia before the trade deadline in order to receive value for him in his walk year.

While a minority opinion will likely be expressed to re-sign Sabathia, his near $100 million price tag puts him beyond reach.

The Cubs remain the most likely trading partner because that's the team with the most trade bait, most notably young starters Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher and Rich Hill, who are widely believed to have been on the block when the Cubs failed in an attempt to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts from the Orioles

ID Crisis Cited in C.C.Sabathia's Woe

Ignoring rampant speculation that Cleveland Indians ace C.C. Sabathia's slow start is attributable to overwork last year, Akron Beacon Journal writer Sheldon Ocker has suggested Sabathia's woes may be attributable to an identity crisis.

Sabathia may be trying to rediscover whether he's a crafty lefty or a high-heat hurler, said Ocker, who covers the Indians on a daily basis.

"He used to come in with his 97-mph fastball and just try to blow it past people," Ocker told XM radio host Charlie Steiner. "Then he decided he wanted to mix in off-speed pitches and throw in the low 90s, which worked. Now he might be trying to remember, 'how did I do that?' "

Sabathia's ERA on the young season is 11.57, with an 0-2 record over 14 innings. Many have speculated that Sabathia is suffering from a tired arm after leading the league by throwing what was for him an unprecidented 242 innings last year.

But without him complaining about soreness or fatigue, the slow start remains a mystery, with predictions abounding that it is a matter of time before Sabathia rediscovers his form.