Tropicana Field vs. Oriole Park at Camden Yards. You pick.
Aubrey Huff has played in both, and Baltimore?s downtown ballpark was a deciding factor in his free-agent search.
“I think here in Baltimore you?ve got such a rich history, and free agents are more inclined to sign here than in Tampa,” Huff said. “I think its always going to be a problem unless they change stadiums.”
Huff began his career in Tampa Bay and played there until last summer, when he was traded to Houston. He became a free agent at season?s end and was one of the more highly regarded left-handed hitters on the market.
“With the addition of Aubrey Huff, we?ve added that bat we?ve been looking for all offseason,” Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan said. “We certainly remember Aubrey from rounding the bases against us. … We?re certainly glad to havehim on our side.”
Apparently, Huff?s future Orioles teammates had a hand in the recruiting, too. Melvin Mora went public on the radio stating his wishes to add Huff?s powerful bat to the order, while Kevin Millar, Jay Gibbons and Brian Roberts also placed phone calls to the corner infielder-outfielder.
“There were plenty of teams involved, but in the end, Baltimore came the hardest,” Huff said of the negotiations.
Huff also had lunch with manager Sam Perlozzo, whose job is immediately easier with the depth and versatility Huff?s signing provides.
“We feel a lot better about the offense today than we did a week ago,” said Orioles vice president Jim Duquette.
Huff will likely see the majority of his playing time in left field ? a position he isn?t too familiar with ? while also seeing time at first base, third base and designated hitter.
“My passion is hitting, and defensively, I?ll help the club wherever they want me,” Huff said.
THE HUFF FILE
» Age: 30
» Height/Weight: 6-foot-3/225 pounds
» Did you know? Huff was Tampa Bay?s fifth-round draft pick in the 1998 draft ? Huff never hit more than two home runs in a season at Brewer High in Texas, but slugged 17 at Vernon (Tex.) College ? Transferred to Miami, where he set a school record with 95 RBI in his senior season ? Had a career year in 2003, hitting 34 home runs with 107 RBI to go with a .311 average.
