Westbrook, Ludwick move in 3-way trade
In a three-way trade that impacts two division races, the St. Louis Cardinals added veteran right-hander Jake Westbrook(notes) to their rotation and the San Diego Padres acquired outfielder Ryan Ludwick(notes) for the middle of their lineup.
The Cleveland Indians, who played facilitator, received minor league right-hander Corey Kluber from the Padres, who also sent minor league left-hander Nick Greenwood to the Cardinals.
Westbrook (6-7, 4.65) was scratched from his start Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Being pushed by the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central, the Cardinals could slot Westbrook behind Chris Carpenter(notes), Adam Wainwright(notes) and Jaime Garcia(notes). While their starters have the best ERA in the National League, the Cardinals have had trouble filling the Nos. 4 and 5 spots in their rotation in the wake of injuries to Brad Penny(notes) and Kyle Lohse(notes).
Penny is at least a month away. Lohse was due to make a rehab start Saturday.
Westbrook, who missed the 2009 season because of Tommy John surgery, is owed the prorated amount of $11 million this season, Westbrook can be a free agent after the season.
Twelfth in the National League in runs scored, the Padres struck twice over 36 hours, acquiring Miguel Tejada(notes) from the Baltimore Orioles and following that with the Ludwick addition. Tejada played shortstop and batted cleanup for the Padres on Friday night against the Florida Marlins.
Ludwick will provide additional lineup support for Adrian Gonzalez(notes) and likely take over in right field. At 32, Ludwick had a breakout season in 2008, when he hit 37 home runs and batted .299. In 13 fewer games in 2009, his home runs slipped to 22 and his average to .265. This season, he had 11 home runs in 281 at-bats for the Cardinals, and now transitions to pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
