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12-11-2003, 12:07 AM
....... so smack the Mod.
:bolt:
These are the guys that are outta there. They're trying to work with BJ Surhoff. Some big names gone...... Scott Erickson being one. And I wonder what Tony Batista is going to do, and I thought he was at least mid 30's. :eek:
Oh, and "bye-bye Belle!!!" :wavey:
12/07/2003 4:30 PM ET
Orioles' housecleaning continues
Decline arbitration to seven of eight free agents
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles' housecleaning from the 2003 season continued on Sunday, when they declined to offer arbitration to seven of their eight free agents.
Third baseman Tony Batista; outfielder Albert Belle; right-handers Scott Erickson, Hector Carrasco and Kerry Ligtenberg; shortstop Deivi Cruz; and catcher Brook Fordyce will not be back with the team in 2004.
The Orioles will not receive any free-agent compensation if these players are signed by other teams.
The eighth potential free agent, designated hitter B.J. Surhoff, was offered arbitration and is in negotiations to come back next season. Executive Vice President Jim Beattie talked with Surhoff's agent, Gregg Clifton, just hours before Sunday's midnight deadline. Surhoff, 39, has until Dec. 19 to accept arbitration and could reach an agreement on a deal before a possible hearing.
Surhoff played in 93 games last season, hitting .295 with five home runs and 41 RBIs. He had two separate stints on the disabled list with leg and hamstring injuries.
Because they declined arbitration to their remaining seven free agents, the O's will not have rights to those players until May 1.
The most intriguing name on the list of free agents is Belle, who unofficially retired before the 2002 season because of a degenerative hip condition. He had to be kept on the 40-man roster so the Orioles could have a portion of his remaining salary paid by insurance, but the contract -- and the Belle Era -- is finally over.
Batista, who turns 30 on Tuesday, hit .235 with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs last season but provided subpar defense at third base and had the second-worst on-base percentage in the Majors. He had more than 100 strikeouts in each of the past two seasons, and club officials privately felt that he had a negative influence on some of the younger players in the clubhouse.
Erickson was supposed to be a franchise cornerstone when he signed a five-year contract extension in 1998, but that never panned out. He missed most of the 2000 and the entire 2001 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. After Erickson lost 12 games in 2002, he was diagnosed with a torn labrum last December and missed the 2003 season.
Carrasco signed a minor-league contract last March and joined the Orioles in late June. He was 2-6 with a 4.93 ERA in 40 games but was too inconsistent in key stretches.
Ligtenberg was effective as a setup man, but the club declined his $1.2 million option although there was interest in bringing him back at a reduced price. Ligtenberg apparently has other offers on the table and was not interested in returning.
The club also declined Cruz's option after the shortstop said that he did not want to return as a backup. Cruz was solid defensively in his lone season in Baltimore, and hit .250 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs. But his .269 on-base percentage was the worst in the Majors, and he walked just 13 times in 548 at-bats.
Fordyce's production declined quickly after he signed a three-year contract extension in 2000, and the Orioles are seeking an upgrade at catcher. They are talking with the agents of Atlanta's Javy Lopez.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
:bolt:
These are the guys that are outta there. They're trying to work with BJ Surhoff. Some big names gone...... Scott Erickson being one. And I wonder what Tony Batista is going to do, and I thought he was at least mid 30's. :eek:
Oh, and "bye-bye Belle!!!" :wavey:
12/07/2003 4:30 PM ET
Orioles' housecleaning continues
Decline arbitration to seven of eight free agents
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles' housecleaning from the 2003 season continued on Sunday, when they declined to offer arbitration to seven of their eight free agents.
Third baseman Tony Batista; outfielder Albert Belle; right-handers Scott Erickson, Hector Carrasco and Kerry Ligtenberg; shortstop Deivi Cruz; and catcher Brook Fordyce will not be back with the team in 2004.
The Orioles will not receive any free-agent compensation if these players are signed by other teams.
The eighth potential free agent, designated hitter B.J. Surhoff, was offered arbitration and is in negotiations to come back next season. Executive Vice President Jim Beattie talked with Surhoff's agent, Gregg Clifton, just hours before Sunday's midnight deadline. Surhoff, 39, has until Dec. 19 to accept arbitration and could reach an agreement on a deal before a possible hearing.
Surhoff played in 93 games last season, hitting .295 with five home runs and 41 RBIs. He had two separate stints on the disabled list with leg and hamstring injuries.
Because they declined arbitration to their remaining seven free agents, the O's will not have rights to those players until May 1.
The most intriguing name on the list of free agents is Belle, who unofficially retired before the 2002 season because of a degenerative hip condition. He had to be kept on the 40-man roster so the Orioles could have a portion of his remaining salary paid by insurance, but the contract -- and the Belle Era -- is finally over.
Batista, who turns 30 on Tuesday, hit .235 with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs last season but provided subpar defense at third base and had the second-worst on-base percentage in the Majors. He had more than 100 strikeouts in each of the past two seasons, and club officials privately felt that he had a negative influence on some of the younger players in the clubhouse.
Erickson was supposed to be a franchise cornerstone when he signed a five-year contract extension in 1998, but that never panned out. He missed most of the 2000 and the entire 2001 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. After Erickson lost 12 games in 2002, he was diagnosed with a torn labrum last December and missed the 2003 season.
Carrasco signed a minor-league contract last March and joined the Orioles in late June. He was 2-6 with a 4.93 ERA in 40 games but was too inconsistent in key stretches.
Ligtenberg was effective as a setup man, but the club declined his $1.2 million option although there was interest in bringing him back at a reduced price. Ligtenberg apparently has other offers on the table and was not interested in returning.
The club also declined Cruz's option after the shortstop said that he did not want to return as a backup. Cruz was solid defensively in his lone season in Baltimore, and hit .250 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs. But his .269 on-base percentage was the worst in the Majors, and he walked just 13 times in 548 at-bats.
Fordyce's production declined quickly after he signed a three-year contract extension in 2000, and the Orioles are seeking an upgrade at catcher. They are talking with the agents of Atlanta's Javy Lopez.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.