Maddux dealt to Dodgers; Soriano staying


NEW YORK - Greg Maddux was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the biggest deal before baseball's non-waiver trade deadline Monday while the Washington Nationals held onto Alfonso Soriano in a bit of a surprise.

Maddux, a 327-game winner and four-time Cy Young Award winner, waived his no-trade clause and accepted the trade to Los Angeles. The Dodgers sent Gold Glove infielder Cesar Izturis to the Cubs.

Maddux started the season 5-0 but the 40-year-old right-hander has won only four games since. He is 9-11 with a 4.69 ERA in 22 starts. Earlier, the Cubs traded infielder Todd Walker and cash to San Diego for minor league right-hander Jose Ceda.

Los Angeles, last in the tightly grouped NL West, also acquired shortstop Julio Lugo from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

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. He can become a free agent after this season.

"We felt the best deal we could make is no deal for the franchise," general manager Jim Bowden said. "He wants to stay in D.C. and did not want to be traded."

While Soriano stayed put, there was a flurry of moves just before the 4 p.m. deadline.

After stellar setup man Duaner Sanchez was injured in a taxi accident, the NL East-leading New York Mets quickly acquired pitchers Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez from the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Xavier Nady.

Sanchez was riding in a cab that got in an accident near the team's hotel in Florida on Sunday night. It wasn't immediately clear how badly he was hurt.

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.

Infielder-outfielder Matt Stairs was acquired by the Rangers from Kansas City for right-hander Joselo Diaz.

Cincinnati, continuing to remake its pitching staff, obtained left-hander Rheal Cormier from Philadelphia and right-hander Kyle Lohse from Minnesota. The Reds sent 23-year-old right-hander Justin Germano to the Phillies and 22-year-old right-hander Zach Ward to the Twins.

In other recent trades, the Reds obtained closer Eddie Guardado from Seattle and relievers Gary Majewski and Bill Bray from Washington.

Atlanta dealt struggling pitcher Jorge Sosa to St. Louis for right-hander Rich Scalamandre.