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| Segui |
BALTIMORE -- The nomadic baseball career of David Segui has
gone full circle.
Segui, who played his first game in the majors with Baltimore in
1990, signed a $28 million, four-year contract with the Orioles on
Thursday. The announcement came two days after the sides agreed to
terms and just over 24 hours after the free agent first baseman
took a physical administered by the team.
Segui, 34, hit .334 in 150 games with Texas and Cleveland this
year. The switch-hitter had 192 hits, 42 doubles, 19 homers and 103
RBI.
Segui spent nine years in the Orioles' organization before being
traded to the New York Mets prior to the 1994 season. That was the
first in a series of trades that would carry Segui to seven
different teams over seven years.
He also played with Montreal, Seattle and Toronto before sharing
time with the Rangers and Indians in 2000. Now, a decade later,
he's back where he launched his career.
"It's nice to come back and play with the Orioles again. Of
course, I made a few stops along the way," Segui said. "I always
enjoyed playing in Baltimore, and I've always expressed a desire to
finish my career here. It's kind of like going home.
"I have some friends on the team, and it will be great to play
with Cal (Ripken) again. It's definitely an honor."
Segui can also play the outfield and was used in 68 games as a
designated hitter, batting an AL-best .331 with nine homers and 39
RBI.
"David is a proven run-producer and a quality hitter from both
sides of the plate," said Syd Thrift, the Orioles vice president
of baseball operations. "We can play him at any one of four
positions."
Segui is the career leader in fielding percentage at first base
with a .996053 mark. He did not commit an error in 617 chances at
first base last season.
"I think we're going to have a very solid defense, and that
makes a big difference for the pitching staff," said Segui, who
chose the Orioles over Detroit and Cleveland.
"There were other offers that were equal or a little bit
better, but there weren't cities that I wanted to play in for four
years," Segui said. "With Cleveland, they made an offer and then
pulled it away. I don't like those kind of games."
Segui will earn $7 million a year through 2004, with $1 million
deferred without interest to be paid from 2005-08.
Incentives in the deal include $200,000 for MVP; $75,000 if he
finishes second through fifth in the voting and $50,000 if he is
6th-10th in the balloting.
Segui would earn $75,000 if he makes the All-Star team, either
as a starter or a reserve.
In other moves Thursday, the Orioles designated third baseman
Ryan Minor for assignment and did not offer a 2001 contract to
pitcher Calvin Maduro, making him a free agent.
Minor, who hit .131 last year, is best known as the player who
replaced Ripken at third base on Sept. 20, 1998, when Ripken ended
his record consecutive games streak at 2,632. The Orioles have 10
days to trade Minor, send him outright to the minors or release
him. | |
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