by Ken Rosenthal

Chicago sent outfielder Joey Gathright to Baltimore in exchange, just hours after he cleared outright waivers.

The deal is cash-neutral, according to one source. The Cubs will pay the balance of Gathright's $800,000 salary for 2009 with the O's paying the balance of Freel's — about $3.3 million.

Freel, who recently completed an injury-rehabilitation assignment, was acquired by the Orioles from the Reds as part of a trade for catcher Ramon Hernandez last offseason. The team then added Ty Wigginton and Felix Pie in subsequent moves, leaving less opportunity for Freel, who was unhappy because of that.

The Cubs will be the fourth club for Freel, who began his career with the Blue Jays.

A .272 career hitter, Freel has shown a knack for getting on base, as exhibited by his career .358 OBP.

Freel was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 20 after being struck in the head with an attempted pickoff throw. He insisted he felt fine, and was disappointed about the conditions surrounding a stress test he was forced to take before beginning his rehabilitation assignment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.