News
O's players hit the free-agent market
Hendrickson, Mora part of group of vets filing on Thursday
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
11/05/09 7:16 PM EST
The first wave of Orioles players hit the free-agency market on Thursday, as Mark Hendrickson, Danys Baez, Melvin Mora and Chad Moeller wasted no time and filed, thus taking care of Baltimore's entire list of pending free agents.Players with expiring contracts and six years of Major League service time can file for free agency for 15 days after the World Series. During that window, their previous clubs have exclusive negotiating rights. They are then free to sign with any team if no deal is reached.
Mora, who spent 9 1/2 years in Baltimore, had his $8 million club option rejected last week, and his stint in Baltimore is likely over.
The 37-year-old third baseman batted .280 with 158 home runs and 662 RBIs in his O's tenure, but his numbers dropped in 2009. This past season, Mora batted .260, his lowest batting average since 2002, with eight home runs -- the fewest for him since '01. He also collected 48 RBIs -- his lowest output since '03 despite playing in 125 games.
As a Type B free agent, the Orioles would receive a sandwich pick between the first and second round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft if Mora signs elsewhere before Dec. 1 or is offered arbitration and declines.
Hendrickson went 6-5 with a 4.37 ERA in 11 starts over 53 games in his first season in Baltimore. The 35-year-old, who made $1.5 million as part of a one-year deal last season, is a resident of nearby York, Pa., and would reportedly like to re-sign with the team.
Out of the bullpen, the 6-foot-9 Hendrickson posted a 3.44 ERA.
Coming off Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, Baez sported a 3.00 ERA in his first month back in action this year and finished the season 4-6 with a 4.02 ER in 59 relief appearances -- second-most on the team.
Moeller, a 10-year veteran catcher, appeared in 30 games for the Orioles and batted .258. He also appeared in 35 games for Triple-A Norfolk, where he went .203 with 10 RBIs.
Moeller has received high regards for the way he works with pitchers, and Baltimore could still bring him back to serve as Matt Wieters' backup.
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
