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| Bordick |
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles welcomed a familiar face
Wednesday, agreeing to a two-year contract with free-agent
shortstop Mike Bordick worth about $9.5 million.
Bordick spent 3½ seasons with the Orioles before being traded to
the New York Mets in July. A sure-handed fielder throughout his
career, Bordick last year supplemented the package with a power
stroke that earned him his first trip to the All-Star game.
During his first stint with the Orioles, he was part of a
veteran-laden club with designs of winning a world championship.
Now he's among a handful of over-30 players on a team filled with
youngsters.
"When I first came here in '97, my main goal was to be part of
a winner and to get into the World Series. That hasn't changed,"
he said. "I think it's going to be a great experience for me."
Bordick gets $4.5 million next year and $5 million in 2002, with
$1 million a yea deferred without interest.
Bordick hit a combined .285 with the Mets and Orioles, setting
career highs with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. He hit .297 with 16
homers and 59 RBI in Baltimore, but his production tailed off
shortly after he joined the Mets.
That mattered little to the Orioles, who again plan to make him
their starting shortstop. Melvin Mora, who struggled at the
position after joining Baltimore in the Bordick trade, will return
to his more natural position in the outfield.
"Trading Mike Bordick last July was extremely difficult,
because we all know what a productive player, quality person and
hard worker he is," said Syd Thrift, the Orioles vice president of
baseball operations. "Getting him to come back is a significant
step for us. His signing provides us with a proven shortstop and
another veteran to make a positive impact on our younger players."
Bordick, 35, was traded as part of the Orioles' youth movement.
His return doesn't make the team a contender, but certainly appears
to have improved the mix.
"It solidifies two positions for us, because it allows us to
move Melvin Mora back to center field, further strengthening our
defense up the middle," Thrift said.
Bordick homered during his first at-bat with the Mets, but
finished with only four homers and 21 RBI in 56 games. He did,
however, get his first taste of World Series competition.
It appears unlikely he will get there in the next two years with
the rebuilding Orioles, but Bordick isn't conceding anything.
"There are some familiar faces and great players here," he
said. "It's a new look, and it's exciting in that regard. The fact
of the matter is that a lot of people are counting the Orioles out.
But in baseball nothing is guaranteed. Young teams have a certain
fire in their eyes."
Bordick is the Orioles' third free agent acquisition in three
days. Baltimore signed right-hander Pat Hentgen on Tuesday and have
reached an agreement with first baseman David Segui.
"With our signings this week, we have made significant strides
in improving our club," Thrift said. "We believe they give us an
opportunity to field a competitive club."
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ALSO SEE
Segui officially signs four-year, $28M deal with Orioles
Hentgen agrees to two-year, $9.6 million deal with Orioles
Free agent movement charts
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's Tim Kurkjian analyzes the Orioles' latest signings.
wav: 713 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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