Angels Trade SS Cabrera to White Sox for SP Jon Garland

The News

The Los Angeles Angels trade Gold Glove SS Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for SP Jon Garland. With pitching being such a premium the Angels traded one of the best SS in the game in Cabrera who is coming off a Gold Glove year in which he also recorded a career high 101 runs scored with 8 HR-86 RBI-.301 BA. Cabrera has 1 year $9 million left on his contract and will be asked to fill a void in the #2 hole in the lineup. The White Sox meanwhile re- signed last years SS Juan Uribe just 12 days ago who now looks to fill a utility role. Jon Garland the Valencia, CA native returns home and joins an Angels rotation that already includes arms John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar & Jered Weaver. Garland who has pitched over 190 innings the last 6 years has won as many as 18 games in 2005 & 2006; he also has one year remaining on his contract at $12 million before becoming a free agent. This move will clear up money for both teams who still plan to be active in the trade market, the Angels will be looking to obtain a power hitter while the White Sox will look to add to their pitching staff.

Fantasy Outlook

Both players have been pretty steady throughout the years and will likely carry over similar numbers to their respective teams. Jon Garland likely has more upside as the Angels have one of the best bullpens in the AL along with an offense that includes Vladimir Guerrero. Garland a sinker ball pitcher has a career 4.41 ERA and likely will be around that level in 2008 but may push his career high in wins at 18. At the moment the White Sox look to fill Garlands spot in the rotation with former Philly phenom Gavin Floyd, Floyd has good stuff but questionable control and looked over matched at times last season. Cabrera heads to Chicago where he should continue to post user friendly numbers, Cabrera is a contact hitter who should post numbers around .285 90-8-60 and chip in a few SB's. To fill Cabrera's vacancy the Angels will look to a combination of Erick Aybar & Maicer Izturis to hold the spot until top prospect Brandon Wood is ready to take over. Depending on how the time share holds up Izturis has shown the ability to produce moderate numbers with sufficient AB's, with runners in scoring position last season Izturis hit .406 in in 96 AB's driving in 46 of his 51 RBI's. Keep an eye on this situation as Izturis holds 2b/SS/3b eligibility and may be a solid IF to take late in drafts.