Billy Beane's got some nerve. After all those wonderful things I've written about him, he trades Rich Harden? After I said many times in the past 24 hours -- in this space, on ESPNEWS, on various sports radio stations -- that he wouldn't?Next time I'll text him before coming to such an obviously rash conclusion.From our report:Exactly. In 2004, Harden started 32 games; one in the minors, 31 in the majors. He hasn't started more than 20 games in a season yet.What I wrote yesterday is that Beane wouldn't trade Harden unless be believes (1) the A's aren't going to be competitive in the second half, or (2) Harden's not likely to stay healthy, or (3) both.I think it's probably both. When Beane looks at his lineup and sees the likes of Jack Hannahan, Ryan Sweeney and Emil Brown, he has to wonder how lucky the A's have been to rack up the fourth-best run differential in the American League. More to the point, I think the Cubs also made him an offer he simply couldn't refuse.Murton, who's never been given a fair shot by the Cubs, makes the A's outfield better immediately. Same for Patterson, who has nothing left to prove in Triple-A and is a better hitter, right now, than most of the A's outfielders; don't be surprised if Murton and Patterson are both in the lineup soon.Donaldson's sort of a throw-in. The 48th overall pick in the draft just last year, Donaldson entered this season as the Cubs' No. 7 prospect (according to Baseball America). But he's not hitting in Class A this season, and figures to be three or four years away from the majors. At best.The key to this trade, from the A's perspective, is right-handed starter Sean Gallagher. Still only 22, Gallagher has already breezed through Triple-A and has a real shot at a long and happy career. I'll spare you the scouting report (which is glowing). But in 70 Triple-A innings, Gallagher has struck out 67 batters, walked 14 and given up three homers. He hasn't been overworked as a pro.You know what this reminds me of? When the A's traded Mark Mulder to the Cardinals and got Dan Haren plus two other prospects. Since then, Haren has won 51 games and Mulder has won 22.I don't know that Gallagher's going to win more games than Harden over the next few years. I wouldn't bet the house against it, though. And he might even win more games than Harden this summer.In fact -- and I'm surprised that I'm writing this -- the A's might be better right now than they were yesterday. Beane's giving up on 2008? Nah. He's just retooling for the stretch run.