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Rangers Send Clayton To ChiSox

December 14, 2000 / 3:53 PM EST / CBS/AP

Three days after signing Alex Rodriguez, the Texas Rangers traded shortstop Royce Clayton to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday for right-handed pitchers Aaron Myette and Brian Schmack.

After giving A-Rod a record $252 million, 10-year contract to become their shortstop, the Rangers told Clayton they would try to send him somewhere he wanted to go, specifically near his hometown of Los Angeles.

Instead, he wound up on the defending AL Central champions. His arrival means Jose Valentin, who just agreed to a $15.5 million, three-year contract, will either move to the outfield or be used as a utility player.

Clayton was heralded as the best shortstop in Texas history when he was acquired from St. Louis at the trading deadline in 1998. He re-signed after the season, agreeing to a $22 million, four-year contract that will pay him $4 million in each of the next two years.

After a strong season at the plate in 1999, Clayton got off to a slow start while trying to move up to the leadoff spot last season. He wound up hitting .242, fourth-lowest among AL qualifiers. His 14 homers tied his career high, but he didn't hit any in his last 68 games.

But Clayton remained solid in the field, leading AL shortstops in putouts while committing 16 errors. Although Chicago turned a league-best 190 double plays, Valentin had 36 errors, by far the worst for a shortstop in either league.

Clayton, a 10-year veteran best known for replacing Ozzie Smith in St. Louis, has a career average of .258 with 70 homers and 439 RBIs.

"The addition of Royce gives Jerry Manuel a great deal of flexibility both offensively and defensively," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said. "We can be a better defensive club with more range on the left side of the infield, or we can choose to go with a more offensive-oriented lineup in certain instances.

"Royce is a proven veteran shortstop, and Jose Valentin is versatile enough to play several positions. I called Jose before we made this move, and he was all in favor of anything that improved our club."

Clayton has been active in charities and community service work. He feuded last season with teammate Chad Curtis, who objected to music containing profanities that was played in the clubhhouse

Williams said Clayton's character made him attractive.

"He has been honored for his community involvement, donates generously to charity efforts and is a quality person who will fit in well in our tight-knit clubhouse," he said.

The 23-year-old Myette pitched 2 2-3 hitless innings in two days with the White Sox last season. A former sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of the 1997 amateur draft, he spent the majority of last season at Triple-A Charlotte, going 5-5 with a 4.35 ERA in 19 games, all but one as a starter.

He was 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA in three starts at Double-A Birmingham while rehabilitating from a broken bone in his left hand.

The 27-year-old Schmack has spent six years in the minors. He was 11-7 with a 2.78 ERA and one save in 51 relief appearances last season at Charlotte. He'll be assigned to Texas' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma.