Yer Out! Cubs Trade Barrett to Padres

Fiery power-hitting catcher Michael Barrett is through in Chi-town, after he followed a genius 2006 campaign with a season marred by poor defense, erratic hitting, and a bloody feud with pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Cubs GM Jim Hendry denied that Barrett's off-field liveliness led to the trade, citing instead a need for defensive retooling.

Barrett will go to San Diego in exchange for a backup catcher, a minor leaguer, and cash. There he'll join Greg Maddux, whom he caught last year with Chicago and who welcomed the idea of rejoining Barrett. The catcher became a Wrigley favorite last year for punching White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski in the face, a move that landed him a 10-game suspension. (More MLB stories.)