White Sox pick up option on SS Valentin

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Chicago - The Chicago White Sox on Thursday picked up the 2004 option on the contract of shortstop Jose Valentin, one of eight players on the team that filed for free agency.

Valentin, a switch-hitter who played several positions in 2002 before being used exclusively at shortstop last season, will make $5 million.

The 34-year-old batted .237 with 28 home runs and 74 RBIs last season. He also had a .969 fielding percentage, the second-highest of his career, and became just the fourth shortstop in major league history to hit at least 25 home runs in four consecutive seasons.

In 10 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers and White Sox, Valentin has a .246 batting average with 196 homers and 652 RBIs.

Last Thursday, Frank Thomas exercised the $6 million option on his contract to stay with the White Sox.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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