Angels trade Ervin Santana to K.C. for minor leaguer Brandon Sisk

The Angels exercised Ervin Santana’s $13-million option for 2013 and traded the pitcher and cash to the Kansas City Royals for minor league pitcher Brandon Sisk on Wednesday, getting something in return for the veteran right-hander before he became a free agent.

The Angels had until 9 p.m. (PDT) Wednesday to either exercise Santana’s option or pay $1 million to buy it out. Had the option been declined, Santana would have become a free agent.

[UPDATED: 3:19 p.m. The Angels are sending $1 million to the Royals as part of the deal.]

In Sisk, the Angels acquired a 6-foot-2, 220-pound left-hander who has spent the past five seasons in the minor leagues, going 3-2 with a 2.54 earned run average and eight saves in 50 games this year for triple-A Omaha.

Sisk, a Texas native who attended Azusa Pacific University, has a 17-15 record and 2.75 ERA and 317 strikeouts in 291 1/3 innings over five minor league seasons. He is currently pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Santana entered last season as one of the team’s most reliable and durable starters, going 17-10 with a 3.92 ERA in 2010 and 11-12 with a 3.38 ERA and tossing a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in 2011. But he tumbled to a 9-13 record and 5.16 ERA in 2012.

For more information on the deal later today, go to www.latimes.com/sports.

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