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Red Sox deal Garciaparra to Cubs
Boston gets Cabrera, Mientkiewicz in four-team trade
By Jim Banks / MLB.com
In a blockbuster four-player deal announced an hour after the official 4 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs acquired five-time All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra from the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox received shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Expos and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins in the deal, with the Cubs sending shortstop Alex Gonzalez and minor leaguers Francis Beltran, a right-hander, and Brendan Harris, an infielder, to Montreal. Minnesota gets minor-league pitcher Justin Jones from the Cubs.

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It took Gonzalez and three prospects, but the Cubs landed the best player in the deal -- Garciaparra, who nearly was dealt in the offseason and was unhappy in Boston. He is a free agent at season's end, but will become part of a formidable Cubs lineup as they seek to make a run in the National League Central, where they stand 11 games behind the Cardinals.

They are just 1 1/2 games behind the Padres for the NL Wild Card, but with Kerry Wood and Mark Prior healthy again and Garciaparra joining Sammy Sosa, Derrek Lee, Moises Alou and Aramis Ramirez in the heart of the order the Cubs have to be considered favorites to return to the postseason.

Boston filled a need for better defense at shortstop and first base in acquiring Cabrera and Mientkiewicz, although both players have struggled at the plate this season.

The Expos acquired two quality prospects and a proven everyday shortstop, when healthy, in Gonzalez in the deal. The Twins receive a pitching prospect in exchange for Mientkiewicz, who had been replaced at first and in the lineup by the power-hitting Justin Morneau.

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