Third baseman Melvin Mora's tenure in Baltimore is likely over after the Orioles declined his 2010 option Thursday. The option was valued at $8 million, according to the Baltimore Sun, making it a foregone conclusion that it wouldn't be picked up after Mora's rough 2009.The 37-year-old, 11-year major league veteran hit .260 in 125 games this year, but, more troubling, slugged .358, the lowest mark of his career and 125 points below his 2008 mark. He also clashed with manager Dave Trembley in August when his playing time was cut.
It ends a 10-year run with the Orioles for the infielder, a rather productive one at that, his 2009 campaign notwithstanding. Mora played in 1,256 games for Baltimore and was an above-average performer in most them, averaging 171 hits per 162 games with a .793 OPS. That will probably offer little consolation going forward.
It could be an awfully uncertain winter for Mora. Veterans didn't exactly fare well on the open market last winter (just look at the contract someone like Bobby Abreu got, or the number of guys who couldn't find work at all), and Mora is coming off of a very tough year. He might be lucky to get anything more than a minor-league deal.
As for the Orioles, they have some nice building blocks offensively, but with Mora and first baseman Aubrey Huff both leaving town in the last few months, GM Andy MacPhail is looking at reconfiguring the infield around second baseman Brian Roberts this offseason.
And that's without even mentioning Baltimore's decade-long attempt to patch together a pitching staff that can weather six months in the AL East without completely collapsing.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I'm an orioles fan always will be despite there losing. But heres my thoughts, They need to stop being a cheap ass team we have no good players only a couple. are pitching is horrible like i cant watch baseball anymore cause the same teams when all they time yankees this boston that. Well if Mr.law man Andy mcphail would gro some balls and put money in his team and stop being a cheap idiot then maybe we would have some good baseball games but this is not going to stop unless we clear are bullpin.... screw getting young talent from the minors they need more developing instead of like i said doing it in the cheap way this isnt 1960 mr.law man its the age of grabing what you can get before the next team gets it. As for melvin Mora mr.law man is going to cut him toooo like megail