Angels trade Cabrera for Garland
The deal for the White Sox pitcher could portend a bigger deal, perhaps for a slugger like Miguel Cabrera or Tejada.
In a move that could portend a bigger deal, the Angels today traded Gold Glove-winning shortstop Orlando Cabrera and cash to the Chicago White Sox for veteran right-hander Jon Garland.
The Angels' rotation appeared set with John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana.
But the addition of Garland, a 28-year-old who went 10-13 with a 4.23 earned run average last season, gives the Angels a rotation surplus that will enable them to deal a young pitcher such as Santana, Weaver or Saunders for a slugger such as Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera or Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada.
Orlando Cabrera played three seasons with the Angels and was entering the final year of a four-year, $32-million contract. Batting second in the lineup, Cabrera hit .301 with 101 runs, 35 doubles, eight home runs and 86 runs batted in this past season.
"We're excited to have Jon as a part of the Angels organization," Angels General Manager Tony Reagins said in a prepared statement. "He'll add some stability to our rotation. He's a competitor and a World Series champion and will bring both passion and character to our ball club. We thank Orlando Cabrera for his service to the Angels and wish he and his family well in the future."
Garland, 28, is a Southern California native who attended John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills. In 2007, he recorded at least 10 wins, 30 starts and 200 innings pitched for the fourth consecutive year going 10-13 with two complete games, one shutout and a 4.23 ERA in 32 starts with the Sox.
The 2007 season marked Garland's first losing campaign since 2003 (12-13) despite posting a team-high 21 quality starts.
A career-best 18-game winner in both 2005 and 2006, his 46 victories since the start of the 2005 season are tied for the sixth-most in the majors. The 6-foot-6, 210-pounder has gone 82-66 with a 4.36 ERA since 2002. In that span, he ranks ninth among all pitchers in starts, 10th in innings pitches and 14th in wins.
A 2005 All-Star and World Series champion with the White Sox, Garland has a career record of 92-81 with eight complete games, six shutouts and 4.41 ERA in 246 games.
Cabrera, 33, captured the second Gold Glove of his career. He led American League shortstops with a .983 fielding pct., the second time in three seasons he led AL shortstops. He led the Angels in runs for the second straight season and his career-high 192 hits were the most ever by an Angels' shortstop. Cabrera's .301 batting average and 86 RBIs ranked third among AL shortstops. Overall, he finished sixth in the AL with 192 hits and third with 63 multi-hit games.
A native of Cartagena, Colombia, Cabrera has posted a .982 fielding pct. the last three seasons to lead all American League shortstops. He was the shortstop for 2004 World Series champion Red Sox and selected as the Montreal Expos' team MVP in 2001 and 2003.
He has a career batting average of .273 with 706 runs, 341 doubles, 28 triples, 97 home runs and 627 RBIs in 1,411 games.
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