Compiling some reactions from around the interwebs to the Harden deal...
The Transaction Oracle thinks Billy Beane blew it...he thinks Gallagher alone is fair value for Gaudin, which means Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, and Josh Donaldson -- two part-time players and a college draftee catcher who isn't hitting in low A -- was the haul for Harden.
Rob Neyer thinks it was a good deal for Beane, although part of the justification is that Murton and Patterson make the A's outfield better immediately...the A's outfield is sort of like the Ranger rotation, in that the bar for improving it is pretty low. Patterson and Murton could be a solid left field platoon, I guess, but that's about it. Neyer also compares Sean Gallagher to Dan Haren, which seems way optimistic.
Keith Law is underwhelmed by Oakland's return, seeing the package the A's got as being a collection of low-ceiling types.
Joe Sheehan sees this as a "no-brainer" for the Cubs, saying Chicago basically got Rich Harden for free. Christina Kahrl is similarly nonplussed, and even as an A's fan can't seem to find a way to put lipstick on this particular pig.
Over at Beyond the Box Score, R.J. Anderson seems more positive about the deal from Oakland's perspective.
David Pinto's initial reaction is that the A's didn't get enough, but updates later with a more positive view, largely based on him seemingly being higher on Gallagher than most folks.