Brian Giles is one of the best hitters in the NL.

Also Tuesday, the Padres traded All-Star outfielder Rondell White to the Royals for two pitching prospects.

Perez, a 22-year-old starter who is 4-7 with a 5.38 ERA with San Diego, and Bay, currently with Triple-A Portland, are expected to join the Pirates in time for Wednesday night?s game against Florida.

The deal, in the planning stages before the deadline for trading without waivers on July 31, initially would have sent outfielder Giles and catcher Jason Kendall to the Padres for Perez, outfielder Xavier Nady and at least one other player.

However, the deal fell through when the two sides could not agree on how much of the $42 million remaining on Kendall?s contract after this season the Pirates would pick up.

The talks heated up again after the Pirates backed off packaging Kendall in the trade, which sends Pittsburgh's most productive offensive player since Barry Bonds back to his hometown to play.

Giles, a San Diego native, has been one of the NL's most consistent run producers since being acquired by Cleveland for reliever Ricardo Rincon before the 1999 season, averaging 35 homers and 100-plus RBIs. He is currently hitting .299 with 16 homers and 70 RBI despite sitting out a month with a knee injury.

The Pirates have not had a winning record or contended since signing Giles.

"There's a lot of disappointment ? and satisfaction,? Giles said. ?It?s disappointing because when I signed here, I wanted to play for a championship club here, but it just didn?t work out. ... But I?m excited to go back and play in my hometown.?

The cash-strapped Pirates have dealt their top starting pitcher (Jeff Suppan), their top relievers (Mike Williams and Scott Sauerbeck) and two most productive position players (Aramis Ramirez and Giles) since mid-July. The trades came after owner Kevin McClatchy disclosed the team may have lost as much as $30 million since opening PNC Park in 2001.

Giles will become a centerpiece for the Padres, who have the worst record in the National League but will be moving into a new stadium, PETCO Park, next season.

White goes from a team that's been in last place since April to a team that?s just one game behind the White Sox in the AL Central race.

White was obtained from the Yankees in a spring training deal for outfielder Bubba Trammell and minor league left-hander Mark Phillips.

The Padres had been looking to move White for some time. He's making $5 million this year and is eligible for free agency after the season.

The Padres will send some cash to Kansas City, but will also save some money on White?s salary that they can apply to Giles, who will earn a little more than $1 million the rest of the season.

White was hitting .278 with 18 homers and 66 RBIs.