Clayton happy he won't displace Valentin

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ Before the Texas Rangers began wooing shortstop Alex Rodriguez, general manager Doug Melvin called his incumbent starter Royce Clayton. <br><br>If the Rangers were to land Rodriguez,

Friday, December 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ Before the Texas Rangers began wooing shortstop Alex Rodriguez, general manager Doug Melvin called his incumbent starter Royce Clayton.

If the Rangers were to land Rodriguez, Melvin wanted to know what Clayton would want: a new position or a new team.

Clayton picked a new team without thinking twice. And, on Thursday, three days after signing Rodriguez to a $252 million, 10-year contract, Melvin found him one, sending Clayton to the Chicago White Sox.

``I know I have a lot of good years left in me at shortstop,'' the 30-year-old Clayton said. ``I know I can help. Doug extended me the courtesy of trading me to the White Sox to secure their infield and do just that.''

Melvin knew he wouldn't get full value for Clayton. He settled for a legitimate prospect, though not Chicago's top young arm, in Aaron Myette and a fringe player in Brian Schmack.

Jose Valentin is the incumbent shortstop Clayton will be displacing with the White Sox. Valentin, however, knew he was likely to be moved and didn't mind. He's headed for either the outfield or a utility role.

``I called Jose before we made this move and he was all in favor of anything that improved our club,'' Chicago general manager Ken Williams said.

Having Valentin's blessing means a lot to Clayton, who had the unenviable task of replacing Ozzie Smith in St. Louis.

``This is definitely a different situation,'' Clayton said.

Clayton was heralded as the best shortstop in Texas history when he was acquired from St. Louis at the trading deadline in 1998. The Rangers won the AL West that season and in the winter Clayton signed a $22 million, four-year contract.

``I thought we had a chance to win the World Series,'' said Clayton, who is owed $4 million in each of the next two years. ``It didn't work out.''

Texas won the division again in 1999, but lost to the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs, as they'd done in '98.

Clayton closed '99 on a tear at the plate, earning him the chance to hit leadoff in 2000. The experiment flopped and he wound up hitting .242. His 14 homers tied his career-high, but he had none in his last 68 games.

Clayton also feuded with teammate Chad Curtis, who objected to music containing profanities that was played in the clubhhouse, and the Rangers finished last in the West.

Through it all, Clayton remained solid in the field, leading AL shortstops in putouts while committing 16 errors _ 20 fewer than Valentin, who recently was re-signed to a $15.5 million, three-year contract.

Valentin's value to the White Sox is on offense as he hit a career-best .273 with 25 home runs, 92 RBIs, 107 runs and 19 stolen bases. He hit for the cycle in April and a month later missed it by a single.

``The addition of Royce gives Jerry Manuel a great deal of flexibility both offensively and defensively,'' 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.''

While Clayton has known White Sox slugger Frank Thomas since high school, he's especially excited about working for Manuel, named the AL's manager of the year after leading Chicago to the AL's best record.

``To me, Jerry Manuel is one of the best managers in baseball,'' Clayton said. ``If you don't want to run through a wall for him, something is wrong.''

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

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.