The Brewers made their move, trading for Cleveland ace CC Sabathia on Sunday night.

On Tuesday, just hours before Sabathia threw his first pitch in a Milwaukee uniform, the Chicago Cubs -- who lead the Brewers by 3½ games in the National League Central -- answered.

The North Siders obtained right-hander Rich Harden from Oakland in a six-player trade that lets the team fill a hole in the rotation created when starter Rich Hill suddenly lost his command and was ultimately sent down to the minors.

Unlike Sabathia, who is expected to sign elsewhere after this season, Harden isn't eligible for free agency until 2009. The move was still a gamble, as Harden has a history of being injury-prone. He missed about a month of the season with a right shoulder strain and has been on the disabled list six times in his six-year career.

Harden was 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts with the A's this season. He now gives Chicago a one-two punch at the top of the rotation with Carlos Zambrano that Chicago GM Jim Hendry thinks can match up with the Brewers' duo of Sabathia and Ben Sheets.

"This gives us another weapon," Piniella said. "He'll fit in here really nice. Let's keep him healthy and pitching and go from there."

Hendry, who had previously inquired about obtaining Sabathia, said the move wasn't a direct result of Milwaukee's deal.

"We felt that the two high-end guys who would possibly be available were the two that have already been traded," Hendry said. "Those are legit one and two starters. So we tried to focus on trying to acquire one."

In Milwaukee, where Sabathia picked up his first National League victory, the Brewers were focusing on their own affairs instead of dwelling on the Cubs' moves.

"I think they were probably looking to improve their team regardless," said leftfielder Ryan Braun. "I think soon as they saw us get CC, they put the pedal to the metal and made sure they got something done.

"Obviously that improves their team and it's going to be a fun race."

Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said the move just makes the playoff race all the more interesting for both teams -- who meet 10 times after the all-star break, and six times in the final two weeks of the season.

"The rest of the summer, these last 2½ months, it's going to make it really fun and interesting," Yost said. "But does it affect us, or do we think about it on a daily basis? No."