They Won’t Trade Places With Anyone

Todd Zeile--former Dodger, former Florida Marlin and current Texas Ranger third baseman--learned a valuable lesson this season. Again.

“I feel I could stay [with Texas],” Zeile said. “But then, I felt I was going to stay in Los Angeles for a while. The only sure thing is a no-trade clause.”

Gee, after seven teams in four seasons, you’d think that one would be etched in his mind.

The Angels, who practiced a no-trade policy in July, would have preferred he stay put--with any of those previous six teams.

Zeile drove in three runs Wednesday, two with an eighth-inning home run that ensured the Rangers’ 7-1 victory, and pretty much put to rest the Angels’ title hopes. He has helped win two games against the Angels with home runs in the last week, nudging the Rangers closer to the AL West title.

“The Florida people told me they were intent on trading me and would try to send me to a contender,” Zeile said. “They were good as their word. Getting to play for something a little more meaningful is certainly worthwhile.”

The Rangers made a flurry of deals before the non-waiver trading deadline. Acquiring pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, who beat the Angles twice in a week, topped the list. But they also rebuilt the left side of their infield, getting Zeile and shortstop Royce Clayton, who came with Stottlemyre from St. Louis.

It cost Clayton a front row seat for history, but he has no regrets.

He spent half the season in the shadow of Mark McGwire--like every other player in St. Louis. Then he was shipped to the Rangers and off the front page. Now he ponders mailing the Cardinals some postcards from the edge of the playoffs.

“If I could, I’d send them a greeting card saying, ‘Thank you very much,’ ” Clayton said.

That’s sincere gratitude, not sarcastic animosity. He has spent the last two months pursuing a title instead being in the chorus line as the McGwire drama unfolded.

“I have a chance to win a pennant,” Clayton said. “That doesn’t happen too often.”

It got a little closer Wednesday. Zeile had a run-scoring single to break a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning. Clayton was his usual steady self in the field. He moved quickly to his right to snag Gary DiSarcina’s looping liner with a runner on first in the third.

Zeile’s homer in a three-run eighth buried the Angels. “When you play Texas, you feel like you have to score some extra runs,” Angel shortstop DiSarcina said. “I mean, Todd Zeile hitting eighth? Come on.”

Zeile came cheap, as the Rangers turned to baseball’s shopping network, the Florida Marlins--where the only thing not on the block is the mascot, Billy Marlin.

He hit home runs in his first two games with the Rangers. He is hitting .259 since the trade but .417 in the last eight games.

Clayton was acquired more for his defense than his offense, but he is hitting .277 and had two hits and a RBI against Angels in the victories Monday and Tuesday.

It took a little of the sting out of missing history.

“The media has covered McGwire pretty good,” Clayton said. “I’ve been able to follow it step by step.”