Roberto Alomar's disappointing stay with the Mets ended Tuesday when the 12-time All-Star second baseman was traded to the White Sox for three prospects.
The Mets received pitchers Royce Ring and Edwin Almonte and infielder Andrew Salvo.
Later Tuesday night, the busy White Sox acquired Texas outfielder and Tampa native Carl Everett. Chicago will let the Rangers pick two or three prospects from a pool and will receive cash from Texas to offset part of Everett's $9.15-million contract.
"We believe the acquisition of Carl, along with another switch-hitter in Robbie Alomar earlier today, really gives our batting order balance and depth," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said.
The Alomar trade marks the beginning of a long-expected makeover of the Mets. The team is in last place for the second straight season despite a $116.9-million payroll on opening day, second highest in baseball.
Alomar was at the center of much of the failure.
"Sometimes it doesn't work for you," he said. "Sometimes you play good in some places and other places you don't play up to your potential. I'm really sad I have to leave New York on these terms, but I have to move on and go to a place where I have a chance to win."
Williams, once Alomar's teammate, welcomed the trade.
"It gives us an experienced, battle-tested veteran that has proven he can withstand a pennant race and play big in big games," Williams said.
The deal was the first completed by Mets interim general manager Jim Duquette, who took over when Steve Phillips was fired June 12.
Duquette said Ring, 22, a left-hander with 19 saves and a 2.52 ERA at Double-A Birmingham, was the player the Mets wanted. He was Chicago's first-round pick in the 2002 amateur draft and is known for a strong mound presence.
Alomar, 35, is in the final season of a contract that pays him $8-million. He came to New York in an eight-player trade with Cleveland after batting .336 with 20 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Indians in 2001.
But the 10-time Gold Glove winner, considered a future Hall of Famer, never got on track in New York. He batted .266 last season, matching a career low set in his rookie season of 1988, and was hitting .262 when the trade to Chicago was made.
He often was targeted by fans in New York for what seemed like halfhearted play, and he appeared to be a shell of the player who hit .313 in 11 AL seasons with Toronto, Baltimore and Cleveland after his first three major-league seasons with the Padres.
"I felt real comfortable in New York," he said. "It's a great city, a great atmosphere. The team maybe, I didn't really feel comfortable with the situation. Sometimes teams don't work for you."
The trade reunites Alomar with his brother, Sandy, who signed as a free-agent catcher with the White Sox before this season.
Everett began the day hitting .274 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs. He is eligible to become a free agent after the season.
"This transaction will allow us to obtain some good young players who we feel can potentially help us at the big-league level as we go forward," Texas general manager John Hart said.
