ex-Quakes dealt to Royals

Right-hander Sean O'Sullivan and left-hander Will Smith, two former Quakes, were traded by the Angels to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday for infielder Alberto Callaspo.

O'Sullivan, 22, went 16-8 with a 4.73 ERA for the Quakes in 2008, leading the Cal League in wins. He made his big-league debut last year, and on Tuesday he was the starter and winner at Yankee Stadium.

Smith, 21, had made three stops in the Angels system this year. He started with the Quakes, going 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA in six starts before he was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he was 2-4 with a 5.60 ERA in nine starts. He was then sent down to Double-A Arkansas, where he went 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA In four Double-A starts.

To me, it seems like a lot to give up two young arms for a guy who's versatile, but hardly an established veteran. Callaspo is a former Angel farmhand who skipped the Quakes, going from Cedar Rapids in 2003 to Arkansas in 2004. He was traded to Arizona before the 2006 season for reliever Jason Bulger before going to Kansas City.

Callaspo was batting .275 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs in 88 games this season. He played at second base or third base for the Royals. He had his breakthrough in 2008 when he batted .305 in 74 games for the Royals, then hit .300 with 11 home runs in 155 games last year.