The Rangers filed for Chapter 11 protection on Monday and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was listed as the top unsecured creditor of the team. Texas owner Tom Hicks insisted that Rodriguez -- and all other creditors -- will be paid. Hicks said he is simply trying to shield the Rangers from additional claims while he finalizes a deal to sell the team for $575 million to a group of investors led by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. "I did not want to put the baseball future of the Texas Rangers in jeopardy or uncertainty for an extended period of time," Hicks said. As part of the 2004 trade that put A-Rod in pinstripes, Texas agreed to pay about $67 million of the $179 million remaining on Rodriguez's contract. Rodriguez is still owed $24,892,006.61 in deferred compensation, the court papers state.