Yanks Send Curtis To Rangers

December 13, 1999 / 6:00 PM EST / CBS/AP

World Series hero Chad Curtis was traded from the New York Yankees to the Texas Rangers on Monday for a pair of minor leaguers.

Curtis, a 31-year-old left fielder, hit .262 with five homers and 24 RBIs last season. But his biggest contribution came in Game 3 of the World Series when he hit two home runs, becoming just the third Yankees' player to hit a walk-off home run in the Series.

The following night, he caught the final out of the Yankees' World Series sweep of Atlanta.

"You don't look at one great moment. You look at what he's done over the years," Rangers general manager Doug Melvin said. "He's a gritty type of player."

In exchange, the Yankees got a pair of young right-handers, Sam Marsonek and Brandon Knight.

The trade was completed at the winter meetings even though the Yankees were the only team that did not attend the session. New York GM Brian Cashman made the deal from Yankee Stadium.

Melvin planned to leave the meetings later Monday. He made the trade with the team that eliminated Texas in the first round of the playoffs.

"When we came here, I was trying to get a third baseman and get a fourth outfielder. We got one of them done," said Melvin, who failed in his attempt to re-sign third baseman Todd Zeile.

"Chad gives us depth at all three outfield positions," he said. "With the two young outfielders we have in Ruben Mateo and Gabe Kapler, his experience will be a big asset."

Curtis created a stir in August when he criticized Yankees star Derek Jeter for talking with Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez following a brawl with Seattle.

Many of the Yankees thought Curtis' comments were out of place, given his status.

Curtis, who also played for California, Detroit and Los Angeles, has a .264 career average with 90 homers and 403 RBIs.

"He gives us versatility and depth," Melvin said. "He can play all three outfield positions and go into the DH role."

Unless the Yankees make another move, Shane Spencer and Ricky Ledee head to spring training as the leading candidates to play left field. Spencer hit just .234 with eight homers and 20 RBIs, while Ledee hit .276 with nine homers and 40 RBIs.

Curtis had finished the first season of a three-year, $6 million contract.

Knight, 24, was 9-8 with a 4.91 ERA at Triple-A Oklahoma. He led the Pacific Coast League with five complete games.

Marsonek, 21, was 3-9 with a 5.54 ERA for Class A Charlotte.