A season after playing a combination of nine light-hitting utility players in left field, the Baltimore Orioles? front office has gone on the offensive in trying to fill that void for 2007.
The club failed to acquire free-agent sluggers Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano, and trades for a big bat have fallen through.
But Monday afternoon, the Orioles officially introduced Jay Payton after the right-handed hitting outfielder passed his physical and signed a two-year contract.
Payton, 34, batted .296 in 142 games with 10 home runs and 59 runs batted in for Oakland last season. He has also made stops with Colorado, San Diego and Boston after starting his career as a New York Met in 1998.
“Jay fits our need for a right-handed-hitting outfielder,” said Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan. “The fact that he hits for average against both lefties and righties and his versatility to play all over the outfield is a real plus. He likely will see time at each outfield spot for us, as well.”
Payton?s versatility will enable Baltimore to rest left-handed-hitting outfielders Nick Markakis and Corey Patterson against left-handed pitching. After breaking into the majors as a center fielder with the Mets, Payton played 51 games in left, 44 in center and 41 in right last season.
“Whatever they want of me, I?ll be prepared for it,” Payton said.
Payton is a career .284 hitter with 105 home runs and 422 RBI in 981 games. He is a slight upgrade over Jeff Conine, who played 56 games in left field last year while splitting time at the position with eight other players. Conine hit .265 with nine home runs and 49 RBI in 114 games before he was traded to Philadelphia on Aug. 28.
