Greg Maddux was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the biggest deal before Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline on Monday, while the Washington Nationals surprisingly held on to Alfonso Soriano.
A 327-game winner and four-time Cy Young Award winner, Maddux waived his no-trade clause and accepted the trade to Los Angeles, who sent Gold Glove infielder Cesar Izturis to the Cubs. Chicago is giving US$2 million to the Dodgers as part of the trade.
Maddux, who spent his first seven seasons with the Cubs, returned to Chicago before the 2004 season after 11 years with the Atlanta Braves. He got his 300th win and 3,000th strikeout with the Cubs.
PHOTO: AP
"I am very surprised, to be honest with you," Maddux said.
"It came down to the last minute. I'm excited to be going to LA, but at the same time sad about leaving Chicago. I need to try to get right with my new team and try to pitch well for them," he said.
Maddux started the season 5-0, but the 40-year-old right-hander has won only four games since and is 9-11 overall with a 4.69 ERA in 22 starts.
Los Angeles, last in the tightly grouped National League West, also acquired shortstop Julio Lugo from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for minor league third-baseman Joel Guzman and outfielder Sergio Pedroza.
Earlier, the Cubs traded infielder Todd Walker and US$350,000 to San Diego for minor league right-hander Jose Ceda.
Soriano, an All-Star left fielder, is batting .286 with 32 homers, 64 RBIs and 26 stolen bases in his first season with Washington after coming over in a trade with Texas last offseason.
"We felt the best deal we could make is no deal for the franchise," general manager Jim Bowden said. "He wants to stay in DC and did not want to be traded."
Soriano, who makes US$10 million this year, can become a free agent after the season.
There were 12 trades in all on Monday, including four by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Teams can still make trades, but players must first pass through waivers.
After stellar setup man Duaner Sanchez dislocated his pitching shoulder in a taxi accident, the NL East-leading New York Mets quickly replenished their staff by acquiring Puerto Rican Roberto Hernandez and Mexico's Oliver Perez from Pittsburgh for outfielder Xavier Nady.
Sanchez was riding in a cab which got in an accident near the team's hotel in Florida on Sunday, the Mets said. They expect to learn in about a week whether Sanchez needs surgery. If he does, the right-hander would miss the rest of the season -- potentially a huge blow to the club's World Series hopes.
Pittsburgh also sent right-hander Kip Wells to Texas for minor league pitcher Jesse Chavez; outfielder Craig Wilson to the New York Yankees for right-hander Shawn Chacon; and first baseman Sean Casey to Detroit for right-hander Brian Rogers.
On Sunday, the Yankees got right fielder Bobby Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle from Philadelphia for four minor leaguers. They hope to get outfielders Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui back from the disabled list before the end of the season.
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