ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Angels traded left-hander Ervin Santana to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for minor league reliever Brandon Sisk.
The Angels exercised Santana's $13 million option for next season before trading the Dominican veteran and cash to the Royals.
"We’ve stated all along that starting pitching was a priority this off-season and acquiring someone with the resume of Ervin Santana immediately upgrades our rotation," said Royals GM Dayton Moore. "At just 29 years old, he has 96 major league wins, is a proven innings eater and most importantly, he competes. Ervin has been an All-Star, has pitched in the post-season and has at least 16 wins in three different years, all of which adds a winning mindset to our clubhouse."
Santana has been a fixture in Los Angeles' rotation since 2005, going 96-80 with a 4.33 ERA while spending his entire career with the Angels, who signed him as a free agent in 2000. He struggled for much of last season, going 9-13 with a 5.16 ERA despite significant improvements over the final two months.
Santana threw a no-hitter in 2011 and a one-hitter last season.
Sisk spent last season with Triple-A Omaha, going 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA and eight saves. He's pitching in the Venezuelan winter league.
