CHICAGO -- Freddy Garcia is coming to play for a new team and an old friend, joining the Chicago White Sox as they try to make a serious push in the AL Central.
The two-time All-Star was traded Sunday from the Seattle Mariners to the White Sox, with Chicago giving up three players -- starting catcher Miguel Olivo, minor league outfield prospect Jeremy Reed and minor league infielder Michael Morse.
Garcia, who will be a free agent after this season, was highly sought after, but his strong friendship with Chicago manager and countryman Ozzie Guillen was a factor.
"He's one of my best friends in Venezuela and I know he's going to come here and do the best he can every day. He's a big-game pitcher," Guillen said Sunday.
"A lot of people wanted him. New York wanted him, Boston wanted him. I'm glad we have him and I hope he signs with us for a few years."
Chicago also gets catcher Ben Davis and cash from the Mariners. The White Sox will pick up the remaining $3.6 million on Garcia's $6.8 million deal, White Sox general manager Ken Williams said.
"It's hard for me to leave," Garcia said. "I do love playing here."
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| Freddy Garcia waves to fans after his trade is announced at the Padres-Mariners game.(AP) |
Everybody knows he's my friend, but I want to do business. You've got to go there and do what I have to do. I'll go there and pitch the way I can pitch," Garcia said.
The 25-year-old Olivo, batting .270, hit his seventh homer of the season Sunday, connecting off Greg Maddux to lead the White Sox over the Cubs 9-4.
Olivo was too upset after the game to comment, a team spokesman said.
"It was one of the hardest conversations I've ever had with a player," Williams said.
The 27-year-old Garcia should help solidify a rotation that already includes Esteban Loaiza, who won 21 games last season, and Mark Buehrle.
"I'm really glad to have him, but we are going to lose one of my favorite players in Olivo," Guillen said. "Hopefully, when Freddy comes to town, he can help us to do what we want to do."
The White Sox have struggled in various spots of their rotation. Jon Rauch's win over Cleveland last week was their first from the No. 5 spot after eight losses.
No. 4 starter Scott Schoeneweis is on the disabled list with a sore elbow, and Buehrle has been hit hard in his last two starts.
"It caught me by surprise. I know we've been trying to get another pitcher in here, but I never thought Miguel was going to be the one who's going to go away," White Sox shortstop Jose Valentin said.
"When you try to get something good, you have to pay the price and give something good away, too. It's a good trade for us and we'll see what happens."
Garcia is scheduled to make his first start for Chicago on Wednesday at Minnesota. The White Sox trail the Twins by a game.
Without Olivo, the White Sox will use Sandy Alomar Jr., Jamie Burke and Davis behind the plate.
"Ultimately, the decision I had to make was were we better positioned with Freddy Garcia on our roster or Miguel Olivo on our roster, and not just this year but hopefully for future years, as we have every intention of trying to sign Freddy to a long-term deal," Williams said.
Davis has split time this season between Seattle and Triple-A Tacoma. He appeared in 14 games with the Mariners and batted .091.
Left-handed starter Jamie Moyer could be the next to go for the punchless Mariners, who are 12½ games behind first-place Texas in the AL West.
The 23-year-old Reed has eight homers and 37 RBI as an outfielder for Triple-A Charlotte. He was drafted by the White Sox in 2002 and is a career .334 hitter in the minors. Morse was batting .287 at Double-A Birmingham.
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