Happy to be back, Garcia gets start vs. Royals

He never wanted to leave, so Freddy Garcia is sure happy to be back with the White Sox.

Traded to the Phillies for current Sox starter Gavin Floyd and left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez on Dec. 6, 2006, Garcia won just 1 game in 11 starts with Philadelphia before having shoulder surgery in '07.

Garcia has been on the comeback trail ever since.

He signed with the Detroit Tigers last season and was 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA in 3 starts at the end of the year.

Garcia, 32, signed with the New York Mets during the off-season, but he was released after going 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in 2 starts with Class AAA Buffalo.

That was April. Five months later Garcia said his shoulder finally is feeling good.

Garcia will put it to the test Tuesday night when he starts against the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.

"I feel normal," Garcia said. "I pitched for a long time with my shoulder bothering me, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. It's exciting for me. I always liked being in Chicago, great city and good people here. I'm really happy."

Garcia made 4 minor-league rehab starts for the White Sox before getting the call and was 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA. The right-hander also had 19 strikeouts in 20 innings.

An intense competitor, Garcia has a chance to help the Sox chase down the first-place Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

"I've seen Freddy pitch for a number of years," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said. "All I need to know is that he's healthy and he's got his arm strength to where it is at a point where he can effectively use his off-speed stuff. His fastball doesn't have to be 93 (mph) because of his second and third pitches."

Garcia pitched for the Sox from 2004-06 and was 40-21. He also won the deciding Game 4 of the 2005 World Series.

"I'm looking forward to it," Paul Konerko said of Garcia's return. "Freddy is a gamer. He has everybody's respect from the clubhouse that was here during his last stint with the White Sox. Word on the street is he's throwing the ball well.

"He can always pitch; he is one of the few right-handers out there that even when his stuff is down he can still get outs. I think it is going to work out well with him."