The early returns on the Orioles' new front office alignment include increased efforts to retain shortstop Mike Bordick and continuing interest in Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
The Orioles have until midnight to offer Bordick salary arbitration or they can't re-sign him until May 1. Mike Flanagan, the newly appointed vice president of baseball operations, indicated last night that the club is attempting to work out a new contract before the deadline.
Bordick, 37, earned $5 million this season while setting the major-league records for most consecutive errorless chances and games by a shortstop. He would have to take a significant pay cut to remain in Baltimore while accepting a one-year deal.
"There's been an exchanging of ideas. We're in the negotiating process, and we're certainly optimistic it can be worked out," Flanagan said.
"We're optimistic that we'll have an answer by tomorrow."
Bordick's agent, Joe Bick, spoke with Flanagan twice yesterday. "We're just kind of bouncing things around and seeing if we can work this thing out," he said.
Bick said that if the club offers Bordick arbitration, his client would accept it rather than refuse and would give the Orioles until Jan. 7 to continue negotiations on a new contract. That makes it less likely that the Orioles would risk a hearing and the probability of paying Bordick more than the $5 million he earned this season.
"I don't really know that it makes a whole lot of sense, from our point of view, to do that," Bick said of declining arbitration. "Either they want him back and we can get a deal done before midnight tomorrow, or they don't. I really don't see what stretching this thing out at this point accomplishes."
Asked whether the Orioles appear interested in keeping Bordick, he said: "Yes, they've said that they do. But you never know. We're just going to keep talking and see if we can find something that works."
As the season was drawing to a close, Bordick said he would probably retire if a deal for 2003 couldn't be worked out with the Orioles, but that stance might be softening. "I don't think Mike wants to close out other possibilities," Bick said.
While Bordick remains a front-burner issue, Rodriguez has emerged as a definite target for the Orioles, who need more run production in the middle of their lineup.
Texas general manager John Hart indicated yesterday that the Rangers won't offer Rodriguez arbitration, freeing the 10-time Gold Glove Award winner to sign with another team. They acquired catcher Einar Diaz from the Cleveland Indians yesterday in a four-player deal.
Jeff Moorad, who represents Rodriguez, couldn't be reached yesterday.
The Orioles might have become a favorite to land Rodriguez based on elimination. The Colorado Rockies no longer need a catcher after trading for Charles Johnson, but the Chicago Cubs apparently remain in the hunt despite acquiring Damian Miller from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rodriguez, 31, said yesterday that the Orioles and Cubs are interested in him, and he hoped that negotiations would heat up during the winter meetings that begin next week in Nashville, Tenn. The Cubs could trade Miller, an All-Star this season, if they obtain Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, who is seeking a three-year deal, had his streak of 10 consecutive Gold Gloves broken last month by the Anaheim Angels' Bengie Molina. He batted .314 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs in 108 games, with a herniated disc costing him two months of the season. Rodriguez, who earned $9.6 million, has been sidelined by hand, knee and back injuries the past three years.
The new front office regime also must address the status of various club employees whose contracts expire at the end of the month, including director of minor-league operations Don Buford, scouting director Tony DeMacio and special assistant Ed Kenney.
Buford said he expects to meet with Flanagan and Beattie at the beginning of next week "and solidify everything."
"They haven't told me I wasn't coming back," Buford said, "so I have to kind of assume I am at this point."
Kenney's return seems to be a certainty. He has already moved back into the inner-circle based on his strong administrative and evaluation skills and should be visible during the winter meetings.
Sun staff writer Joe Christensen contributed to this article.