<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="" vAlign=top width=560>Cubs ship Maddux to Dodgers for Izturis
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cubs ship Maddux to Dodgers for Izturis</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
July 31, 2006
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<SMALL>AP - Jul 31, 7:31 pm EDT</SMALL>
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CHICAGO (AP) -- Greg Maddux came back to the Cubs and got his 300th win and 3,000th strikeout.
He couldn't get them to the postseason.
Now he's leaving again, traded Monday to the Dodgers for infielder Cesar Izturis in a move that will give the 40-year-old pitcher a chance to return to the playoffs. Chicago will pay $2 million to Los Angeles as part of the deal.
"I am very surprised to be honest with you. 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 said after shaking hands in the Cubs' clubhouse.
Maddux, who has a career record of 327-200, waived his no-trade clause to go to the Dodgers, who are in last place in the NL West, but just five games out of first.
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</NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"I was willing to waive that if the Cubs wanted to try to get better for next year," Maddux said.
Maddux broke in with the Cubs in 1986, left as a free agent after the 1992 season when he won the first of four straight NL Cy Young Awards and then spent 11 seasons with the Atlanta Braves before returning to the Cubs with a three-year, $24 million deal in 2004.
"I started with them and I thought I was going to end with them," Maddux said, adding that now he'll be closer to his Las Vegas home. "I look forward to going out West, a lot closer to home and maybe seeing some of my family during the season."
Maddux started the season 5-0 in April, but has won only four games since. He is 9-11 with a 4.69 ERA in 22 starts.
Maddux got his 300th win wearing a Cubs uniform in 2004 and his 3,000th strikeout the following season.
He came to Chicago with hopes that he would be part of a strong pitching staff that included Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano. But after the Cubs were within five outs of the World Series in 2003, they missed the wild card the next season as Wood and Prior began a three-year battle against injuries.
Maddux was 16-11 in 2004, marking his 17th straight season of at least 15 wins. But he was 13-15 a year ago, his first losing season since 1987.
And this season is lost. The Cubs were 18 games under .500 entering play Monday.
"When we brought him here in 2004 we certainly thought we were going to win and win big with him," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "I feel badly for him it didn't work out the way we wrote the script. But you know down the road, I'll always feel one of the best things I ever did was bring Greg back to Chicago."
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<SMALL>AP - Jul 31, 4:55 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Maddux was a big hit in the clubhouse with a wry sense of humor and a keen ability to break down the game, especially pitching. He served as a tutor to some of the young pitchers in the Cubs' clubhouse, especially rookie Sean Marshall.
"It's not every day you get to catch a Hall of Famer, a guy with 300-plus wins," Chicago catcher Michael Barrett said.
"I think he's still got a lot of great innings ahead of him. I think it's a good move for him, he gets to go to a playoff-contending team. He's going to have an impact there. We'll always feel the impact he made here."
Hendry said he would not rule out re-signing Maddux for next season, even though he was just 38-37 in his return to the Cubs in 90 starts.
"There is no such thing as counting him out. You'll never hear me say he's done or in decline," Hendry said. "He's already done things that are unbelievable and certainly almost impossible. Nothing he could ever do would surprise me."
Izturis was a Gold Glove winner in 2004 and an All-Star last year, then had season-ending elbow surgery in September. The 26-year-old was activated June 20 and is hitting .252 with seven doubles and 12 RBIs in 32 games.
"I feel good. Every day it feels better and stronger," Izturis said. "I want to play every day. I can't wait to get there."
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti credited Izturis for his flexibility in moving from shortstop to third base to second.
"I admire how he handled the situation and how hard he played," Colletti said. "I'm glad I could place him in a place where he'll have a chance to do what he wants to do."
The Cubs plan to use Izturis at shortstop and move Ronny Cedeno to second.
"Right now I can throw any ball from shortstop," Izturis said. "Hopefully, I will stay healthy and play for many years to come."
As Maddux said his goodbyes Monday, his son was at his side. They often played catch at Wrigley Field. It was one of the perks manager Dusty Baker allows his players. "I enjoyed playing here and part of me will always be a Cub," Maddux said.
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cubs ship Maddux to Dodgers for Izturis</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
July 31, 2006
<TABLE style="PADDING-LEFT: 8px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Jul 31, 7:31 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
CHICAGO (AP) -- Greg Maddux came back to the Cubs and got his 300th win and 3,000th strikeout.
He couldn't get them to the postseason.
Now he's leaving again, traded Monday to the Dodgers for infielder Cesar Izturis in a move that will give the 40-year-old pitcher a chance to return to the playoffs. Chicago will pay $2 million to Los Angeles as part of the deal.
"I am very surprised to be honest with you. 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 said after shaking hands in the Cubs' clubhouse.
Maddux, who has a career record of 327-200, waived his no-trade clause to go to the Dodgers, who are in last place in the NL West, but just five games out of first.
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Maddux broke in with the Cubs in 1986, left as a free agent after the 1992 season when he won the first of four straight NL Cy Young Awards and then spent 11 seasons with the Atlanta Braves before returning to the Cubs with a three-year, $24 million deal in 2004.
"I started with them and I thought I was going to end with them," Maddux said, adding that now he'll be closer to his Las Vegas home. "I look forward to going out West, a lot closer to home and maybe seeing some of my family during the season."
Maddux started the season 5-0 in April, but has won only four games since. He is 9-11 with a 4.69 ERA in 22 starts.
Maddux got his 300th win wearing a Cubs uniform in 2004 and his 3,000th strikeout the following season.
He came to Chicago with hopes that he would be part of a strong pitching staff that included Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano. But after the Cubs were within five outs of the World Series in 2003, they missed the wild card the next season as Wood and Prior began a three-year battle against injuries.
Maddux was 16-11 in 2004, marking his 17th straight season of at least 15 wins. But he was 13-15 a year ago, his first losing season since 1987.
And this season is lost. The Cubs were 18 games under .500 entering play Monday.
"When we brought him here in 2004 we certainly thought we were going to win and win big with him," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "I feel badly for him it didn't work out the way we wrote the script. But you know down the road, I'll always feel one of the best things I ever did was bring Greg back to Chicago."
<TABLE style="PADDING-LEFT: 8px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Jul 31, 4:55 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Maddux was a big hit in the clubhouse with a wry sense of humor and a keen ability to break down the game, especially pitching. He served as a tutor to some of the young pitchers in the Cubs' clubhouse, especially rookie Sean Marshall.
"It's not every day you get to catch a Hall of Famer, a guy with 300-plus wins," Chicago catcher Michael Barrett said.
"I think he's still got a lot of great innings ahead of him. I think it's a good move for him, he gets to go to a playoff-contending team. He's going to have an impact there. We'll always feel the impact he made here."
Hendry said he would not rule out re-signing Maddux for next season, even though he was just 38-37 in his return to the Cubs in 90 starts.
"There is no such thing as counting him out. You'll never hear me say he's done or in decline," Hendry said. "He's already done things that are unbelievable and certainly almost impossible. Nothing he could ever do would surprise me."
Izturis was a Gold Glove winner in 2004 and an All-Star last year, then had season-ending elbow surgery in September. The 26-year-old was activated June 20 and is hitting .252 with seven doubles and 12 RBIs in 32 games.
"I feel good. Every day it feels better and stronger," Izturis said. "I want to play every day. I can't wait to get there."
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti credited Izturis for his flexibility in moving from shortstop to third base to second.
"I admire how he handled the situation and how hard he played," Colletti said. "I'm glad I could place him in a place where he'll have a chance to do what he wants to do."
The Cubs plan to use Izturis at shortstop and move Ronny Cedeno to second.
"Right now I can throw any ball from shortstop," Izturis said. "Hopefully, I will stay healthy and play for many years to come."
As Maddux said his goodbyes Monday, his son was at his side. They often played catch at Wrigley Field. It was one of the perks manager Dusty Baker allows his players. "I enjoyed playing here and part of me will always be a Cub," Maddux said.
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