Harden excited about joining 1st place Cubs

Rich Harden's baseball career took a major detour to Wrigley Field in Chicago Wednesday, where he arrived sleep deprived and feeling a mix of several emotions.

He'd gone from the West Coast to the Midwest, from the American League to the National and from a successful team to one that's in first place.

"It's my first trade. I've been in Oakland my entire career, so it definitely was a shock," Harden, a Victoria native, said Wednesday, a day after the Cubs obtained the pitcher in a six-player trade with the Athletics.

"But it's exciting to come to the Cubs, especially with the talent they have, the reputation they have — the fans, how passionate everyone is for baseball here. I couldn't be happier."

The Cubs landed Harden one day after the NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers got C.C. Sabathia. Harden heard the rumours and they intensified last weekend when he was in Chicago pitching for the A's against the White Sox. Now the reality of the deal has arrived.

"It's been crazy — a lot of new faces, a lot of shaking hands — but I enjoy being here," Harden said. "I didn't know how it would be in the clubhouse, but everybody's pretty laid back. I've heard there were a lot of good guys on the team. It's been good."

Now the question: How good can Harden be? Or even more important: how healthy?

The oft-injured right-hander 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. He's 5-1 this season with a 2.34 earned-run average in 13 starts and got his first loss against the White Sox when he allowed three runs and five hits in five innings.

"I feel good. I've had a history of some injuries, but I'm definitely working toward getting out there every fifth day and pitching. It's been an ongoing process of finding out what works — my training routine, pre-game, the day before I throw, that schedule," Harden said.

Asked if his velocity had dropped some recently, Harden said: "The last couple games it may be down a little bit, but you're going to have games like that. It happens to everyone over the course of a season. I'm not concerned about it."

Harden joins a rotation that includes all-stars Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster along with lefty Ted Lilly. Jason Marquis and Sean Marshall have also been in the rotation and one will now end up in the bullpen.

Harden will make his first start this weekend, either Friday or Saturday, against the Giants at Wrigley Field.

6 starters allow extra rest

Chicago manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday that since the Cubs have six starters, they have the luxury of giving someone an extra day of rest. That's fine with Harden.

"Getting a day off, an extra day here or there, definitely makes a difference with the history I've had," he said.

The Cubs also received right-hander Chad Gaudin, who will be used in relief, while sending promising right-hander Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder-outfielder Eric Patterson and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson to the A's.

Gaudin was 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 26 games, including six starts, for Oakland, which is second in the AL West. It's the third time Gaudin has been traded. He played previously for Piniella with Tampa Bay.

On their flight to Chicago, Gaudin and Harden chatted about the whirlwind events they'd been caught up in.

"Just kind of talked about how crazy it was. He had never been traded before, so it was kind of a little different for him. He was still in shock," Gaudin said. "He didn't sleep much. We just kind of talked about going to a first-place team and embracing it."