In one afternoon, the Orioles introduced their new second baseman, fortified their bullpen and cleared room on the major-league roster by releasing a player who didn't fit into their plans for 1999.

Delino DeShields attended a news conference at Camden Yards yesterday in his first appearance in Baltimore since signing a three-year, $12.5 million contract two weeks ago. A native of Seaford, Del., he described joining the Orioles as "a dream come true" and joked about the expected onslaught of ticket requests from family and friends.

"I'm going to be hard to find," he said, grinning. "I love you all and you know where I'm at, but I'm going to be hard to find."

The same will be true of outfielder Willie Greene, who was designated for assignment with yesterday's signing of reliever Xavier Hernandez to a two-year, $2.5 million deal with a club option for 2001. Greene was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 10 for outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, the fourth overall pick in the 1992 draft.

General manager Frank Wren couldn't find a taker for Greene during the winter meetings in Nashville that concluded earlier this week. Greene batted .154 with one homer in 24 games with the Orioles. He missed the last five games after suffering a mild concussion and a jammed shoulder when he crashed into the left-field fence at SkyDome in Toronto on Sept. 22.

"As our club is currently configured, we just didn't see how he would fit at this point," Wren said of Greene, who earned $1.75 million last season and was eligible for salary arbitration. "We exhausted our trade options at the winter meetings. We talked to every club. It just didn't work out."

Wren acknowledged that the decision not to bring back Greene was easier for him because he wasn't in charge when the trade occurred in August. Former assistant GM Kevin Malone pulled the strings on that deal, which gave the club a veteran who could play a variety of positions, but none of them particularly well. And the fact Greene cost the Orioles a player who ranked among the highest draft picks in club history wasn't enough to keep him in Baltimore.

"I don't think you can hold on to people because of who you traded for them," Wren said. "You have to evaluate each guy on his own merit and as we evaluated [Greene] on his own merit, it didn't appear we had a position for Willie."

Hernandez will fill the right-handed setup role vacated by Alan Mills, who signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and also can work in middle relief.

Hernandez, 33, made 46 appearances with the Texas Rangers last season, going 6-6 with one save and a 3.57 ERA. His best season was 1992 with the Houston Astros, when he appeared in a career-high 77 games and went 9-1 with seven saves and a 2.11 ERA.

"He's been a very solid guy over the last few years. He has a very good split-fingered pitch. He's another good addition for us," Wren said.

Unlike Hernandez, DeShields had spent his entire nine-year career in the National League, the last two with the St. Louis Cardinals. He's a lifetime .270 hitter with 382 stolen bases, and showed improved discipline at the plate by reducing his strikeouts from 124 in 1996 to 72 in 1997 in virtually the same number of at-bats.

"I don't think it's going to take long at all [to adjust to a new league]," he said. "The big thing with me is getting used to my teammates and the staff here. I'm not worried about the game. It pretty much doesn't change. It's a different league and the games are a little longer, but it's still baseball."

The clubhouse is expected to be energized with the additions of intense competitors Albert Belle and Will Clark, if it's not torn apart first. DeShields, 29, is docile by comparison.

"I can be vocal at times but that's not the way I go about my business. I just prefer to go out and play and show my teammates they can count on me and get respect like that," he said.

Asked what he wants the fans here to know about him as a player, DeShields said: "I come to play every day. I can't say I'm like Roberto Alomar or anybody else. I'm Delino DeShields. I go out and play my game."

DeShields also addressed criticism of his defense. He's heard it all, ranging from the ground he covers at second to his throwing arm.

"I'm above average," he said. "I'm not the best and I'm not the worst. That's always been the knock on me, my defense, but I feel I can catch the ball with anybody."

The ties between Wren and DeShields date to 1988 while both were in the Montreal Expos organization. DeShields also lived in an apartment next to Wren and his wife while playing in the instructional league.

"I've followed his progress and he's been a very productive player over the years and we're thrilled to be able to bring him here to Baltimore," Wren said.

NOTES: The Orioles signed right-hander Doug Linton, 33, to a Triple-A contract and invited him to spring training. Linton is 2-3 with a 2.41 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 37.1 innings with Caguas of the Puerto Rico Winter League. He went 4-4 with a 5.99 ERA in 14 starts with Triple-A Salt Lake last season and hasn't pitched in the majors since 1996 with the Kansas City Royals. An announcement could come as early as today on the signings of reliever Ricky Bones and utility player Rich Amaral, who will spell Brady Anderson in center field. Wren said he talked trade with three clubs yesterday while still pursuing more relief help and another starting pitcher. "We'll continue to explore starting pitching," he said. "That may be something where we wait until spring training. There aren't a lot of guys out there who I think would improve us a great deal at this point." Wren also repeated that the club has no interest in former Orioles starter Ben McDonald.

A new look

Comings...

Albert Belle, RF

Will Clark, 1B

Delino DeShields, 2B

Xavier Hernandez, P

Charles Johnson, C

Mike Timlin, P

Goings...

Roberto Alomar, 2B

Rich Becker, OF

Armando Benitez, P

Eric Davis, DH

Charlie Greene, C

Willie Greene, OF

Jimmy Key, P

Alan Mills, P

Rafael Palmeiro, 1B

Pete Smith, P

Xavier Hernandez file

Career highlights/personal

Born: Aug. 16, 1965.

Height: 6 feet 2.

Weight: 195.

Bats: right.

Throws: right.

Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas.

Resides: Missouri City, Texas.

Career notes: Topped Cincinnati in relief innings (90) in 1995, was second in appearances (59) and third in wins (7). Pitched 0.2 innings in Game 3 of 1995 NLCS vs. Atlanta, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs. Tied for second on Yankees staff in relief innings (40) in 1994. Was 2-0 with six saves in first 13 appearances through May 13 but did not have a save the rest of the season. Pitched three seasons at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette. Was the Texas high school player of the year as a

senior when he was 19-1 and Thomas Jefferson won Class 5A state championship. Favorite team as a youngster was the Houston Astros and favorite player was Pete Rose.

Career stats

Yr-Team .. .. .. W-L .. .. ERA .. .. SV .. .. IP .. .. H

'89-Tor. .. .. . 1-0 .. . 4.76 .. ... 0 ... 22.2 .. . 25

'90-Hou. .. .. . 2-1 .. . 4.62 .. ... 0 ... 62.1 .. . 60

'91-Hou. .. .. . 2-7 .. . 4.71 .. ... 3 ... 63.0 .. . 66

'92-Hou. .. .. . 9-1 .. . 2.11 .. ... 7 .. 111.0 .. . 81

'93-Hou. .. .. . 4-5 .. . 2.61 .. ... 9 ... 96.2 .. . 75

'94-N.Y.Y. .. .. 4-4 .. . 5.85 .. ... 6 ... 40.0 .. . 48

'95-Cin. .. .. . 7-2 .. . 4.60 .. ... 3 ... 90.0 .. . 95

'96-Cin. .. .. . 0-0 ... 13.50 .. ... 0 .. . 3.1 .. .. 8

'96-Hou. .. .. . 5-5 .... 4.22 .. ... 6 ... 74.2 .. . 69

'97-Texas .. ... 0-4 .. . 4.56 .. ... 0 ... 49.1 .. . 51

'98-Texas .. ... 6-6 .. . 3.57 .. ... 1 ... 58.0 .. . 43

Totals .. . .. 40-35 .. . 3.77 .. .. 35 .. 671.0 ... 621

Pub Date: 12/18/98