How should one react to his second-favorite team trading its biggest name to his very favorite team? Rejoice!

The Cubs’ acquisition of All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra by no means assures them of a playoff spot, but it addresses their most serious need. The Cubs have hovered near the top of the National League in team ERA all season long, but are only seventh in the league in runs scored. And that figure is pretty misleading because the Cubs, in spite of leading the league with 143 home runs, have tended to hit those dingers with few men on base thanks to a woeful .324 team on-base percentage (good for 12th).

The only spot the Cubs had open to really improve offensively was shortstop, and General Manager Jim Hendry went out and got the best shortstop available. While Garciaparra is still recovering from an Achilles’ tendon injury, he has done well so far since returning in June, with 5 home runs, 21 RBI and a .367 OBP. And the Cubs didn’t give up anyone currently on their major-league roster, thus making it a pure addition with regard to this year’s club.

Still, there are no guarantees. One hitter rarely makes a difference. As illustrated by yesterday’s 4-3 loss (their 20th one-run loss of the year), there are have been too many days when the Cubs just haven’t been able to get over the hump on offense. It’s unclear whether Garciaparra, not fully healthy and new to National League pitchers, can jumpstart the offense. But he was the best shot at the playoffs the Cubs had, and Hendry made it happen.

As for the Red Sox, they made the best of an impossible situation. Garciaparra obviously was not going to re-sign with them at the end of the year, upset over the team’s refusal to meet his contract demands and its serious flirtation with Alex Rodriguez last winter. Considering that any team trading for Garciaparra was gauranteed only two months of a physically iffy player, it was hard for GM Theo Epstein to get the pitching the Red Sox desperately needed.

Speaking of re-signing Garciaparra, if he continues to insist on taking nothing less than $60 million over four years, it would be unwise of the Cubs to meet that price. They could much better use the money to get equal or better production from an outfielder to replace Moises Alou. But that is months away. Perhaps Garciaparra will fall in love with Cubdom and take less money over less time for the chance to play on the North Side. Perhaps he will be reinvigorated by his trade to the Cubs, and will help lead them to the promised land.

Perhaps.