Greg Maddux came back to the Cubs and got his 300th win and 3,000th strikeout.

He couldn't get them to the postseason.

Now he's leaving again, traded Monday to the Dodgers for infielder Cesar Izturis in a move that will give the 40-year-old pitcher a chance to return to the playoffs. Chicago will pay $2 million to Los Angeles as part of the deal.

"I am very surprised to be honest with you," Maddux said after shaking hands in the Cubs' clubhouse. "It came down to the last minute. I'm excited to be going to L.A., but at the same time sad about leaving Chicago. I need to try to get right with my new team and try to pitch well for them."

Maddux, who has a career record of 327-200, waived his no-trade clause to go to the Dodgers, who are in last place in the National League West, but just five games out of first.

"I was willing to waive that if the Cubs wanted to try to get better for next year," Maddux said.

Maddux broke in with the Cubs in 1986, left as a free agent after the 1992 season when he won the first of four consecutive NL Cy Young Awards and then spent 11 seasons with the Atlanta Braves before returning to the Cubs with a three-year, $24 million deal in 2004.

"I started with them and I thought I was going to end with them," Maddux said, adding that now he'll be closer to his Las Vegas home. "I look forward to going out West, a lot closer to home and maybe seeing some of my family during the season."

Maddux started the season 5-0 in April, but has won only four games since. He is 9-11 with a 4.69 ERA in 22 starts.

Maddux got his 300th win wearing a Cubs uniform in 2004 and his 3,000th strikeout the following season.

He came to Chicago with hopes that he would be part of a strong pitching staff that included Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano. But after the Cubs were within five outs of the World Series in 2003, they missed the wild card the next season as Wood and Prior began a three-year battle against injuries.

Maddux was 16-11 in 2004, marking his 17th consecutive season of at least 15 wins. But he was 13-15 a year ago, his first losing season since 1987.

And this season is lost. The Cubs were 18 games under .500 entering play yeterday.

"When we brought him here in 2004 we certainly thought we were going to win and win big with him," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "I feel badly for him it didn't work out the way we wrote the script. But you know down the road, I'll always feel one of the best things I ever did was bring Greg back to Chicago."

Maddux was a big hit in the clubhouse with a wry sense of humor and a keen ability to break down the game, especially pitching.

"It's not every day you get to catch a Hall of Famer, a guy with 300-plus wins," Chicago catcher Michael Barrett said.

"I think he's still got a lot of great innings ahead of him. I think it's a good move for him, he gets to go to a playoff-contending team. He's going to have an impact there. We'll always feel the impact he made here."

Hendry said he would not rule out re-signing Maddux for next season, even though he was just 38-37 in his return to the Cubs in 90 starts.

"There is no such thing as counting him out. You'll never hear me say he's done or in decline," Hendry said. "He's already done things that are unbelievable and certainly almost impossible. Nothing he could ever do would surprise me."

Izturis was a Gold Glove winner in 2004 and an All-Star last year, then had season-ending elbow surgery in September. The 26-year-old was activated June 20 and is hitting .252 with seven doubles and 12 RBIs in 32 games.

"I feel good. Every day it feels better and stronger," Izturis said. "I want to play every day. I can't wait to get there."

In other trades yesterday:

The Los Angeles Dodgers obtained shortstop Julio Lugo from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for two minor leaguers. Lugo, who can become a free agent after this season, is hitting .308 with 12 homers, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 73 games. Tampa Bay receives third baseman Joel Guzman and outfielder Sergio Pedroza. Guzman, whom the Devil Rays believe can become a big hitter, was sent to Class AAA Durham. Pedroza will join Class A Visalia. The Devil Rays will also call up infielder B.J. Upton, the team's top draft pick in 2002, from Class AAA Durham.

The Kansas City Royals traded pitchers Jeremy Affeldt and Denny Bautista to the Colorado Rockies for minor-league first baseman Ryan Shealy and right-handed reliever Scott Dohmann. Affeldt was 4-6 with a 5.91 ERA in 27 games, including nine starts, for the Royals this season. Bautista began the season in Kansas City's rotation, but was sent to Class AAA Omaha with an 0-2 record and 5.66 ERA in eight games, seven of them starts. Shealy, who also drew the interests of the Pirates, was hitting .284 with 15 home runs, 16 doubles and 55 RBIs in 222 at-bats with the Rockies' Class AAA affiliate in Colorado Springs.

The trade was the Royals' second of the day. Earlier, they sent first baseman-outfielder Matt Stairs to the Texas Rangers for minor league right-hander Joselo Diaz.

The San Diego Padres acquired Todd Walker from the Chicago Cubs to help out at third base, which has been a weak link offensively for the defending NL West champions. The Padres also got $350,000 in the deal and sent minor league right-hander Jose Ceda to the Cubs. Mark Bellhorn is still expected to get playing time at third base for the Padres, who released slumping Vinny Castilla on July 19. Geoff Blum, who also has filled in at third, will return to a utility role.

The Cincinnati Reds bolstered their bullpen and possibly their starting rotation with two trades, acquiring right-hander Kyle Lohse from Minnesota and left-hander Rheal Cormier from Philadelphia. Lohse, a starter for most of his career, will join Cormier in the bullpen for now. Cincinnati sent 23-year-old right-hander Justin Germano to the Phillies and 22-year-old right-hander Zach Ward to the Twins.

The Atlanta Braves dealt Jorge Sosa to the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leaguer, one day after the disappointing pitcher was designated for assignment. Sosa was a huge surprise in 2005, going 13-3 with a 2.55 ERA after being acquired from Tampa Bay for a backup infielder during spring training. But he was horrible this season, going 3-10 with a 5.46 ERA in 36 games. He lost his spot in the rotation after 13 starts, and a brief attempt to turn him into a closer failed miserably. The Braves acquired right-handed reliever Rich Scalamandre from the Cardinals.