Chicago.WhiteSox.MLB.com

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

Freddy Garcia has joined his new teammates in Minnesota. (John Froschauer/AP)

But if Garcia proves to be the missing piece in the White Sox's postseason puzzle for success, the right-handed hurler will be bigger than life in the city of Chicago.

The 27-year-old right-hander arrived in Minneapolis prior to Tuesday night's game, two days after the White Sox acquired the talented hurler from Seattle and one day before he makes his debut for the South Siders at the Metrodome. Garcia renewed old acquaintances with players on the White Sox, and talked extensively with his best friend and fellow native of Venezuela, Ozzie Guillen, who also happens to manage his new team.

While Guillen is ecstatic to have added a presence such as Garcia at the top of his rotation, the pragmatic leader warned that Garcia's arrival hasn't exactly forced the Twins and the rest of the American League Central to concede.

"It's a lift, but just because we brought Freddy in doesn't mean we are going to win," Guillen said. "Freddy will help us once per week. The other four or five days, we have to play without him.

"This kid is one of the best pitchers in the game and I'm glad we have him, but it doesn't mean that we feel comfortable we are going to win this thing. I want the players to know that.

"Having good players doesn't always mean you will win," Guillen added. "The team that plays the best is going to win. Do we have a better chance now? Yes, because we added another good arm."

Garcia wasn't the only new face in the White Sox clubhouse, with catcher Ben Davis also moving across the country, in exchange for catcher Miguel Olivo and top minor league prospects in outfielder Jeremy Reed and shortstop Michael Morse. Davis will back up Sandy Alomar Jr. and Jamie Burke for the time being, and give Guillen another left-handed bat off the bench.

But the addition of Garcia could be the true difference-maker. Since early in the season, when the fifth starter's struggles began for the White Sox, Guillen repeated the mantra that he wanted a good pitcher -- not just someone to fill the rotation's final void. Following Sunday's victory over the Cubs, Guillen got his wish.

The trade was expected on Garcia's part for the past couple of weeks. But to officially leave the city where he found original stardom in baseball and played his entire six-year Major League career still was a bit startling.

"When they told me, I was kind of shocked," Garcia said Tuesday, talking to interested media from Chicago and Minnesota. "I've got a lot of friends there and it was hard to leave, but you've got to do what you've got to do.

"I was expecting to get traded anywhere ... Here, Yankees, Dodgers. Chicago is a good team, and I know everybody here. So, I'm excited to be here."

Garcia brings a 4-7 record with a 3.20 earned run average to Chicago, ranking among the American League leaders in ERA (fifth), strikeouts (fifth, 82), innings pitched (107) and opponents average (seventh, .236). He also ranks at the bottom in terms of run support, getting a Major League-worst 2.19 runs of support per nine innings while with Seattle.

But the Mariners' lack of production didn't seem to be an issue with Garcia. He also didn't try to make excuses for a sub-par 2003 season, posting a 12-14 record in 33 starts with a career-worst 4.51 ERA. That effort came on the heels of two straight All-Star appearances for a pitcher with a lifetime 76-50 record and 3.89 ERA.

Two punctured eardrums, which were surgically repaired in the offseason, caused Garcia problems with his balance. His disappointing final full campaign with the Mariners also might have cost Garcia a multi-year deal.

There's always the chance that Garcia could end up back in Seattle after the season is complete. With Guillen as manager and the abundance of talent on the White Sox roster, there's an even stronger chance Garcia could put down roots in Chicago for the next three or four years.

If Garcia leads the White Sox to the Central Division title or even further, the city might not let the big man leave.

"I like the city," Garcia said of Chicago. "I don't like the cold weather, but right now, I like it. I don't know yet (about a multi-year extension). Whatever happens right now... they're talking. We'll see.

"But I'm really happy. I want to help the team, and I know they can hit. I'm ready to pitch and do what I can to help this team win every five days."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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