Alex Cintron: there's no such thing as an easy double play
Shortstop/second baseman Alex Cintron has filed for free agency, becoming the third Oriole to do so in the past week. He follows Kevin Millar and Jay Payton. Shortstop Juan Castro may also opt for free agency in the near future.
Cintron, Millar, Payton, and Castro are all in their 30s, and none of them have enough to offer a team in desperate need of rebuilding around a young nucleus of players. Payton, once considered a solid outfielder, has been on the decline for several seasons. Read more about his career trajectory here.
Castro and Cintron are career journeymen. They filled utility roles for the O’s in 2008, but they were never more than stopgaps.
Of the four players, only Millar may return to Baltimore. The stocky first baseman and one-time union-crossing scab looked very slow at times this season, but he hit 20 homers in ’08 and he is a popular clubhouse presence with a solid glove. The O’s may try to resign him if they cannot land a top-tier first baseman through free agency.
For more info: Check back later today for a first look at the O's 2009 schedule
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