The San Diego Padres traded away shortstop Khalil Greene to the St. Louis Cardinals for Minor League right-hander Mark Worrell and a player to be named later on Thursday. The deal was first rumored on Wednesday but the both clubs did not make it official until Thursday.
Worrell was 3-3 with a 2.15 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings with Triple-A Memphis in 2008. He has 84 Minor League saves since being selected by the Cards in the 12th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
The Padres will have until April 1 to choose the other player in the trade. General manager Kevin Towers said that the player would be just as good as Worrell if not better once they choose the player. It is expected to be another pitching prospect.
With the move it sheds away the huge contract that Greene was to be paid next year. The team will probably be playing under a $40 millon dollar payroll in 2009 so they need to cut all the salary that they can and build for the future.
