Maddux dealt to L.A.; Soriano stays in D.C.

NEW YORK -- Greg Maddux was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the biggest deal before baseball's nonwaiver trade deadline Monday, while the Washington Nationals surprised some teams by holding onto Alfonso Soriano.

A 327-game winner and four-time Cy Young Award winner, Maddux waived his no-trade clause and accepted the trade to Los Angeles, who sent Gold Glove infielder Cesar Izturis to the Cubs. Chicago is giving $2 million to the Dodgers as part of the trade.

Maddux, who spent his first seven seasons with the Cubs, returned to Chicago before the 2004 season after 11 years with the Atlanta Braves. He got his 300th win and 3,000th strikeout with the Cubs.

"I am very surprised to be honest with you," Maddux said. "It came down to the last minute. I'm excited to be going to L.A., but at the same time sad about leaving Chicago. I need to try to get right with my new team and try to pitch well for them."

Maddux started the season 5-0, but the 40-year-old right-hander has won only four games since and is 9-11 overall with a 4.69 ERA in 22 starts.

"He's not what he was when he was winning Cy Young Awards, but we still think he has the ability to pitch and win games," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "He's probably one of the smartest players I've ever been around. I think he'll find a way."

Los Angeles, last in the tightly grouped National League West, also acquired shortstop Julio Lugo from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for minor league third baseman Joel Guzman and outfielder Sergio Pedroza

Earlier, the Cubs traded infielder Todd Walker and $350,000 to San Diego for minor league right-hander Jose Ceda.

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.

"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."

Soriano, who makes $10 million this year, can become a free agent after the season.

While Soriano stayed put, there were 12 trades in all Monday, including four by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Teams can still make trades, but players must first pass through waivers.

* After stellar setup man Duaner Sanchez dislocated his pitching shoulder in a taxi accident, the NL East-leading New York Mets quickly replenished their staff by acquiring Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez from Pittsburgh for outfielder Xavier Nady.

Sanchez was riding in a cab that got in an accident near the team's hotel in Florida late Sunday night, the Mets said.

They expect to learn in about a week whether Sanchez needs surgery. If he does, the right-hander would miss the rest of the season -- potentially a huge blow to the club's World Series hopes. If not, he could return in September, according to general manager Omar Minaya.

New York had hoped to land a top starting pitcher.

"We had some pretty big things on the table, especially late yesterday," Minaya said. "Unfortunately, they didn't pan out."

* 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.

* On Sunday, the Yankees got right fielder Bobby Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle from Philadelphia for four minor leaguers. They hope to get outfielders Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui back from the disabled list before the end of the season.

"I think we're better equipped to run the rat race here in the final two months, but the competition is so fierce," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

* AL East-leading Boston didn't make any moves.

"We were asked over and over again for our young pitchers," general manager Theo Epstein said. "As much as we desperately wanted to help our team, it would have been shortsighted to sacrifice our plan."

* Star shortstop Miguel Tejada also stayed put in Baltimore.

"I told them before that I don't want to go anywhere. If I'm going to win, I want to win here," said Tejada, who is signed through 2009.

* Texas acquired infielder-outfielder Matt Stairs 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.