White Sox trade Garcia to Phillies

The Chicago White Sox traded right-hander Freddy Garcia to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night for right-hander Gavin Floyd and a player to be named.

White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams let slip during the announcement at baseball’s winter meetings that the player is pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

The deal reconnects Garcia with his former general manager from Seattle, Pat Gillick, who has been working to upgrade the team’s pitching staff.

Garcia was 17-9 with a 4.53 earned-run average for Chicago last season.

Floyd was 4-3 with a 7.29 ERA in 11 starts for the Phillies last season before being optioned to triple-A on June 3.

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Left-hander Ted Lilly and the Chicago Cubs reached a preliminary agreement on a four-year contract worth about $40 million.

The deal was contingent on Lilly’s passing a physical, the Cubs said.

Lilly went 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA in 32 starts during 2006.

Also Wednesday, Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry was hospitalized after complaining of not feeling well. Hendry was expected to remain in the hospital overnight.

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The Oakland Athletics and left-handed reliever Alan Embree agreed to a $5.5-million, two-year contract, and the club also was closing in on a one-year deal with catcher Mike Piazza.

Oakland General Manager Billy Beane said he didn’t expect anything to be finalized with Piazza until later in the week.

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The San Francisco Giants finalized a $16-million, three-year contract with catcher Bengie Molina.

Molina, a former Angel and a two-time All-Star, is scheduled to make $4 million next season, $6 million in 2008 and $6 million in ’09.

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Andy Pettitte decided he will pitch next season rather than retire, a move that will set off negotiations with his hometown Houston Astros and the New York Yankees.... The Cleveland Indians found a front-runner for their vacant closer’s job, agreeing to a $4.25-million, one-year contract with free-agent Joe Borowski that includes a club option for 2008.... In a swap of promising young pitchers, the New York Mets acquired hard-throwing reliever Ambiorix Burgos from the Kansas City Royals for starter Brian Bannister.... The Baltimore Orioles acquired outfielder Freddie Bynum from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named.