The Orioles announced today that they won't exercise third baseman Melvin Mora's $8 million contract option for the 2010 season, an expected move that likely ends the tenure of one of their most productive and popular players over the last decade.
In a series of roster moves today, the Orioles also declined the $850,000 option on catcher Chad Moeller, who hit .258 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 30 games while serving as rookie Matt Wieters' backup; and outrighted outfielder Jeff Fiorentino, pitchers Chris Lambert and Jim Miller and catcher Guillermo Rodriguez after each cleared waivers.
Reliever Sean Henn, who appeared in six games for the Orioles late in the season, was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Orioles could attempt to resign Mora at a lesser rate, but that is unlikely with the veteran third baseman coming off one of the worst offensive campaigns of his career, and both sides seemingly ready to head in a different direction. In declining the option, the Orioles will pay a $1 million buyout and look to add a third baseman this offseason either via a trade or free agency.
The Orioles also could use Ty Wigginton at third until they deem Josh Bell -- the prized prospect who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July in the George Sherrill deal -- is ready to make the jump to the majors.
In his ninth full season with the club, Mora, who will turn 38 before the 2010 season, batted .260 with eight homers and 48 RBIs in 125 games, and clashed with manager Dave Trembley.
Mora had been the longest tenured Oriole, having played 1,256 games for the franchise, which acquired him in a trade with the New York Mets in July of the 2000 season. During that span, he went from a valuable utility player to a two-time All-Star third baseman. He is in the top 10 in franchise history in hits, home runs, RBIs, runs scored, doubles, total bases and at-bats, and played more games at third base than any other Oriole except Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.
Mora also holds the team record for best batting average in a single season as he hit .340 in 2004. That was the season in which he also collected 27 homers and 104 RBIs while establishing himself as the Orioles' everyday third baseman.
Mora also developed into one of the faces of the organization for his work on and off the field. His wife, Gisel, gave birth to quintuplets during the 2001 season at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and the family established Harford County as their year-round home and became involved in numerous charities in the area.
Mora further endeared himself to the fan base by being the only current Oriole to attend the memorial service of former player and longtime coach Elrod Hendricks, who died in December 2005.
About a month after Hendricks' passing, Mora was instrumental in helping arrange a phone call between star shortstop Miguel Tejada and club vice president Jim Duquette that led to Tejada rescinding his request for a trade. Mora has said on numerous occasions that the franchise would always maintain a special place in his heart.
"I'm always going to love the Orioles. Whatever has to do with the Oriole community, the Baltimore, I will do it," Mora told The Baltimore Sun during the second-to-last week of the season. "My babies, they're from Baltimore. No matter what, everything I do in my life will be related to Baltimore."
Still, the end of Mora's tenure with the club was a rocky one, both on the field and in the clubhouse. A season after hitting .285 with 23 homers and 104 RBIs to reverse downward trends in his numbers, Mora played his customary solid defense but never found his stroke at the plate. He went a career-high 50 games during the 2009 season without hitting a homer before connecting off the Toronto Blue Jays for a game-winning shot on July 11.
His criticism of Trembley, peaking before the Orioles' Aug. 2 series finale against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards, rankled several of the organization's decision makers. Out of the lineup for the third time in four games, Mora claimed that he wasn't angered by his reduction in playing time, but said he was annoyed with what he perceived as Trembley's excuses for not having him in the lineup.
"I don't appreciate the disrespect, because I've been playing hurt for a guy who won't respect you. I don't deserve it," Mora said at the time. "Whatever he wants to do, he can do it. But like I told you before, I need to have my respect. This is not a guy who just came to the Orioles. This is a guy who's been here for nine years busting his butt for the organization."
Mora went as far to say that he'd be fine with getting released by the Orioles. He met with Trembley after his comments, but by then, their relationship had been irreparably damaged.
The Orioles opted to let Mora play out the season as they had no young and major league-ready third baseman at the upper levels of the minor leagues, and they also didn't want to end his highly productive tenure with the organization on such a bitter note. Mora, who had a blanket no-trade clause, gave the front office permission to trade him, but the Orioles never found any suitors.
In likely his final game as an Oriole, Mora went 0-for-2 before being removed from the game for a pinch hitter. Following the bottom of the sixth, Mora was shown on the stadium Jumbotron and the salsa tune that he's had as his at-bat music over the past several years was played. Mora stepped out of the dugout and acknowledged the standing ovation, tapping his heart. He later admitted that he was moved by the display.
Now, Mora will become a free agent, and for the first time in his career, face some uncertainty about where he'll be when another baseball seasons begins.
"Wherever I'm going to be next year, I'll never get tired of thanking the Orioles, because I made my career here," Mora said in mid September.
Where he ranks in O's history
Here's a look at Melvin Mora's career numbers with the Orioles and where he ranks on the club's all-time list:
__________________ "You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish."-Billy Beane
That was a pretty fair piece I thought. He was one of the few good players on really bad teams. I'm not sure what kind of legacy that is, but it does say a lot that he is in the top 10 in all those categories. Unmentioned in the article were any heartwarming quotes from other game luminaries like Jay Payton. Ah JayPay. Man that guy sucked as an Oriole.
A part of me will you MelMo. Good luck with the basketball team consisting of your children!
