CHICAGO – Greg Maddux came back to the Cubs and got his 300th win and 3,000th strikeout.

He couldn’t, however, get them to the postseason.

Now he’s leaving again, traded Monday to the Dodgers for infielder Cesar Izturis in a move that will give the 40-year-old pitcher a chance to return to the playoffs. Chicago will pay $2 million to Los Angeles as part of the deal.

“I am very surprised to be honest with you. It came down to the last minute. I’m excited to be going to L.A., but at the same time sad about leaving Chicago. I need to try to get right with my new team and try to pitch well for them,” Maddux said after shaking hands in the Cubs’ clubhouse.

Maddux, who has a career record of 327-200, waived his no-trade clause to go to the Dodgers, who are in last place in the NL West, but just five games out of first.

“I was willing to waive that if the Cubs wanted to try to get better for next year,” Maddux said.

Maddux broke in with the Cubs in 1986, left as a free agent after the 1992 season when he won the first of four straight NL Cy Young Awards and then spent 11 seasons with the Atlanta Braves before returning to the Cubs with a three-year, $24 million deal in 2004.

“I started with them and I thought I was going to end with them,” Maddux said, adding that now he’ll be closer to his Las Vegas home. “I look forward to going out West, a lot closer to home and maybe seeing some of my family during the season.”

Maddux started the season 5-0 in April, but has won only four games since. He is 9-11 with a 4.69 ERA in 22 starts.

Maddux was a big hit in the clubhouse with a wry sense of humor and a keen ability to break down the game, especially pitching.

“It’s not every day you get to catch a Hall of Famer, a guy with 300-plus wins,” Chicago catcher Michael Barrett said.

“I think he’s still got a lot of great innings ahead of him. I think it’s a good move for him, he gets to go to a playoff-contending team. He’s going to have an impact there. We’ll always feel the impact he made here.”

As Maddux said his goodbyes to Cubs players Monday, his son was at his side. They often played catch at Wrigley Field. It was one of the perks manager Dusty Baker allows his players.

“I enjoyed playing here and part of me will always be a Cub,” Maddux said.