CHICAGO, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The Chicago White Sox have 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, 34, a switch-hitter who played several positions in 2002 before being used exclusively at shortstop last season, will make $5 million. He batted .237 with 28 home runs and 74 RBI last season.
"Jose is ecstatic," his agent, David Elston, told the Chicago Tribune. "All along he wanted to come back to the White Sox."
Valentin 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 Milwaukee and the White Sox, he has a .246 batting average with 196 homers and 652 RBI and has a 958 fielding percentage in 1,093 games at shortstop.
Valentin joins Frank Thomas, who exercised the $6 million option on his contract to stay with the team.
