Angels send Cabrera to White Sox for ex-ace

The swap for Jon Garland means Juan Uribe is
probably on the trading block in Chicago.

CHICAGO (AP) — Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera was traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Jon Garland on Monday in a surprising swap of dependable players.

The deal came 12 days after the White Sox re-signed shortstop Juan Uribe to a $4.5 million, one-year contract. Now, he could wind up on the bench or with another team.

“We saw an opportunity to acquire one of the best shortstops in the game and one of the smartest in the game. Somebody who can fit into the No. 2 spot in our lineup for 155 games,” Chicago general manager Ken Williams said, adding the trade frees up money that could help the White Sox pull off another deal.

“We’re not done yet. We’re still trying to land a big fish,” he said.

The 33-year-old Cabrera batted .301 with eight homers, 86 RBIs and a career-high 101 runs for the AL West champions this season. He also led AL shortstops in fielding percentage (.983) and won his second Gold Glove. The other came in 2001 with the Montreal Expos.

Garland, an 18-game winner in 2005 and 2006, was 10-13 with a 4.23 ERA in 32 starts this year. He joins a solid Angels rotation that includes John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver.

“For me it’s a great opportunity, growing up in the Southern California area, to come home and show the West what my capabilities are,” Garland said. “I’d love to bring a championship back to Southern California and enjoy it back home.”

The 28-year-old right-hander is 92-81 with a 4.41 ERA in 246 games, including 223 starts, over eight major league seasons, all with the White Sox. Chicago also receives cash from the Angels as part of the trade.

Garland’s salary is $12 million next year, then he can become a free agent. Cabrera’s salary is $9 million in 2008, and he also will be eligible for free agency after the season.

“I know we got better today,” new Angels general manager Tony Reagins said.

Garland pitched a four-hitter to beat Lackey 5-2 in Game 3 of the 2005 AL championship series, giving up a two-run homer to Cabrera.

This isn’t the first time Cabrera has been involved in a noteworthy deal. He was shipped from Montreal to Boston at the 2004 trade deadline as part of a four-team swap that included Nomar Garciaparra.