Royals pick up Santana

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels traded right-hander Ervin Santana to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for minor league left-hander Brandon Sisk.

The Angels exercised Santana’s $13 million option for next season before trading the Dominican veteran and cash to the Royals.

“We’re proud to have him, and he certainly fits with what we’re doing in 2013,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said.

Santana has been a fixture in Los Angeles’ rotation since 2005, going 96-80 with a 4.33 ERA while starting at least 23 games in eight consecutive seasons. He has spent his entire career with the Angels, who signed him as a free agent in 2000 and nurtured his development into a solid starter of 96 games over the past three years.

But Santana struggled for much of last season, going 9-13 with a 5.16 ERA while giving up a major league-worst 39 homers despite significant improvements over the final two months.

“I have to realize that this is a business,” Santana said, citing Kauffman Stadium as one of his favorites in the majors. “They trade me, and I just have to accept it and move on. It’s going to be hard because I’ve known my teammates for a long time, but now I’m going to have new teammates. I can’t wait to meet them in person and hang out.”

Santana’s woes and Dan Haren’s similarly slow start were major factors in the Angels’ midseason struggles, forcing them to make a trade for Zack Greinke and ultimately keeping them out of the playoffs for the third straight season.

“I don’t have any physical problems,” Santana said. “Everything was good. I just have bad luck. I was pitching good, and I didn’t have the opportunity to win a lot of games.”

Soriano opts out of last year of deal with Yankees

NEW YORK — Reliever Rafael Soriano opted out of the final year of a three-year, $35 million contract with the New York Yankees on Wednesday and will likely seek a long-term deal in free agency.

The move was expected after the right-hander had 42 saves and a 2.26 ERA while filling in for closer Mariano Rivera this season after baseball’s saves leader tore a knee ligament in early May.

“I’m not surprised because (agent) Scott Boras told me he was confident he could get him 15 times four (years), $60 million. If that’s the case, it would be a good deal for Soriano,” Yankees president Randy Levine told The Associated Press. “I hope that’s what’s real in the marketplace.”

Soriano was set to make $14 million next season. Instead, New York will pay him a $1.5 million buyout. The Yankees can make him a qualifying offer of $13.3 million before Friday’s deadline, and if Soriano signs with another team, they will get draft compensation.

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