CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox picked up Mark Teahen in a trade from the Kansas City Royals on Friday, getting a new third baseman in exchange for infielders Chris Getz and Josh Fields and cash considerations.
Teahen batted .271 with a 12 home runs and 50 RBI in 144 games with the Royals in 2009. He made 99 starts at third base, 31 in right field and three at second.
Chicago general manager Ken Williams said Teahen would be the White Sox's starting third baseman and last year's rookie star, Gordon Beckham, would be switched from third to second.
That was good news for Teahen, who called third "my comfort position."
"I can handle the outfield and play there, but third base is my No. 1 position," he said.
Teahan is a career .269 hitter with 59 home runs and 293 RBI in 676 career games, all with Kansas City.
Teahen was drafted by Oakland in 2002 and traded to the Royals in 2004, along with right-handed pitcher Mike Wood, in exchange for right-hander Octavio Dotel and cash considerations.
Getz, who became Chicago's starting second basemen, batted .261 with two homers, 31 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 107 games last season.
Fields, a former college quarterback at Oklahoma State, appeared in 29 games and batted .222 with seven homers and 30 RBI last season.
The trade was announced shortly after the White Sox said they had declined a 2010 option on right fielder Jermaine Dye.
