Brewers trade for Sabathia, Cubs for Harden

So last week, the Cubs and Brewers each made trades for starting pitchers that figure to up the ante in the NL Central race, with the Beermakers acquiring ace CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians, and the Cubs acquiring Rich Harden from the Oakland A’s. Their additions give both teams a solid 1-2 punch in Ben Sheets and Sabathia for the Brewers, and Carlos Zambrano and Harden for the Cubs. All 4 of these pitchers are bona fide aces who are among the best in the game. For the Cubs, the only problem is if Harden can stay healthy this season. He has been on the DL 6 times in the last 4 years, all with pitching related problems. Ditto for the Brewers with Sheets, also struck with Wood and Prior Syndrome.

The Cubs should be a little concerned over Harden’s health. The timing of this deal is very fishy, that he was traded about 3 weeks before the deadline. Anyone who has read Moneyball by Michael Lewis would understand how Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane’s mind works, and this move is not consistent with that. Perhaps Beane knows something that the Cubs don’t, and tried dumping off Harden before the injury came out. If Harden makes it through 2008 in one piece, the Cubs could have a very 1-2-3 in Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Harden, and a solid #4 in Ted Lilly.

Ultimately, I think the Cubs will end up edging the Brewers (and Cardinals) and win the NL Central, while the Brewers will miss the playoffs, and then Sabathia will bolt town for a 9-figure contract over the winter…possibly with the Cubs.