Cubs land pitcher Harden from Oakland

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player deal on Tuesday.

The deal comes a day after the Cubs' National League Central division rivals Milwaukee landed Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia in a trade from the Cleveland Indians.

Chicago also got right-hander Chad Gaudin while the Athletics obtained four prospects in pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson.

Harden, who spent a month on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season, with 92 strikeouts over 77 innings.

Among pitchers with at least 12 starts this season, Harden leads the majors with 10.75 strikeouts per nine innings. The 26-year-old right-hander has allowed just five home runs.

"I had heard talk about it, but it's still always a surprise," Harden said on Major League Baseball's official Web site, MLB.com.

"It's a bit of a shock. But they're a good team, and they have a chance of doing something special."

Gaudin gives the Cubs another dependable arm in the bullpen, the right-hander going 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 26 appearances (six starts) this season.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Detroit; Editing by Peter Rutherford)