SAN DIEGO (AP) – The San Diego Padres traded All-Star outfielder Rondell White to the Kansas City Royals for two pitching prospects on Tuesday, The Associated Press has learned.

The trade came shortly after the Padres acquired outfielder Brian Giles, who grew up in the San Diego area, from the Pittsburgh Pirates for left-hander Oliver Perez, minor league outfielder Jason Bay and a player to be named. A baseball source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed White’s trade.

White goes from a team that’s been in last place since April to a team that’s just one game behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central race.

White was obtained from the New York Yankees in a spring training deal for outfielder Bubba Trammell and minor league left-hander Mark Phillips. The Padres had been looking to move White for some time. He’s making $5 million this year and is eligible for free agency after the season.

The Padres will send some cash to Kansas City, but will also save some money on White’s salary that they can apply to Giles, who will earn a little more than $1 million the rest of the season.

White was hitting .278 with 18 homers and 66 RBIs.

AP-ES-08-26-03 1657EDT