Breaking News: Angels Trade Ervin Santana To Royals

Well, as I talked about yesterday, the Angels needed to make a decision on Ervin Santana and Dan Haren. One of those shoes just dropped. The Angels traded Santana plus cash to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league left-hander Brandon Sisk.

Sep 12, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starter Ervin Santana (54) delivers a pitch against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Sisk is a power left hander who has a career 9.9 strikeout per nine ratio in the minor leagues. He finished 3-2 this past season in Omaha, the AAA affiliate for the Royals. Opponents hit .234 against him last season. Sisk recorded eight saves last season. He was not on the Royals 40 man roster. Sisk is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Look, the Angels weren’t going to let Santana go for free. Santana gave up the most home runs of any starter last year which hurts his value. His $13 million option is also higher than he would get as a regular free agent. The Angels had to eat some of it and try to get what they could.

The Royals are looking for starting pitching help and it isn’t a spot that major free agents are going to look for. The Angels need another lefty in the bullpen and the best way to build a bullpen is cheaply and through the system. If Sisk comes in this spring and performs maybe he makes the team or at least gives them another body they can think about using as the season goes on.

The leaves Dan Haren up next. If news breaks on that we’ll have something for you.