SEATTLE - Alex Rodriguez received a $100,000 bonus again this year for making the All-Star team, something the Texas Rangers added to that little $252 million contract he signed three years ago.
When the Orioles' own Melvin Mora made his first All-Star team Sunday, he got zilch.
His one-year, $1.73 million contract didn't include a clause with an All-Star bonus. A .249 career hitter coming into this season, Mora wasn't even on the All-Star ballot.
Of the 62 players selected for the All-Star game, 47 had automatic bonuses in their contracts totaling $2.24 million. Mora wasn't one of them.
But the Orioles decided to do something about that this week. Someone mentioned the situation to owner Peter Angelos, and he approved a $25,000 bonus for Mora, which is the standard bonus for most All-Star players.
Mora still remembers how much it meant to him when the Angelos family sent food to his house before his wife, Gisel, gave birth to their quintuplets on July 28, 2001.
"Sometimes, when they talk about trading me, I think about all the good things they've done for me here in Baltimore," Mora said. "That's why I don't think about playing for anybody else. I want to stay here and give about 150 percent."
After going 2-for-4 last night, Mora is leading the American League with a .358 batting average.
Trade talk
Desperate for offensive help, the Los Angeles Dodgers have talked to the Orioles about Mora, saying they would be willing to offer center fielder Wilkin Ruan and/or left-handed pitcher Steve Colyer.
The top talent in the Dodgers' farm system is at Double-A and below, but Ruan, 24, was batting .314 with 28 stolen bases for Triple-A Las Vegas before getting called up to Los Angeles on Friday. Colyer, 24, was 2-1 with a 1.39 ERA for Las Vegas before getting called up Sunday.
Orioles officials said it would take more than that to move Mora.
Jim Beattie, the team's executive vice president, declined to comment on the discussions, but he did say, "We're not interested in trading Melvin for minor league players."
Beattie added: "I don't want Melvin to think we're shopping him. We're not shopping him. Teams are simply calling us with interest."
Bechlers attend game
Kiley Bechler, whose husband, Steve Bechler, died of heatstroke Feb. 17 after collapsing at the Orioles' spring training facility, was at Safeco Field for last night's game against the Seattle Mariners. She brought the couple's 2-month-old baby, Hailie, down to the field for some of Steve's ex-teammates to see.
Kiley Bechler, 22, made the 7 1/2 -hour drive from Medford, Ore., to Seattle for her sister's basketball tournament, so Beattie called up Mariners president Chuck Armstrong, and they arranged to put the entire team (26 people including parents) in a luxury suite above right field.
"This is my first [major league] game not being with Steve or watching Steve," Kiley said. "So it's kind of weird."
Kiley Bechler dressed Hailie in a tiny white Orioles jersey, with the name Bechler and Steve's No. 51 on back. Orioles manager Mike Hargrove, bench coach Sam Perlozzo and first-base coach Rick Dempsey all came over to greet them.
B. Roberts update
Brian Roberts was not in the starting lineup after being removed from Tuesday's game in the seventh inning with back spasms. Roberts, who had played in all 42 games since his promotion from Triple-A Ottawa, has battled occasional bouts with back spasms since his freshman year of college.
He was walking gingerly through the clubhouse yesterday. The pain is in the middle section of his upper back.
"I would be surprised if he'd be ready for [tonight]," Hargrove said.
Hargrove used Mora at second base, B.J. Surhoff in left field and David Segui as the designated hitter. It was Segui's first time in the starting lineup since June 27.
Fontenot honored
Double-A Bowie second baseman Mike Fontenot was named the Eastern League's Player of the Month for June after batting .380 with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 21 RBIs. He posted a .416 on-base percentage and a .598 slugging percentage.
Rooting from afar
Angelos may not have much to cheer about at Camden Yards, but he will be rooting long distance for the Greek National Team that he has helped put together to compete for a slot in the Olympic baseball tournament in Athens in 2004.
The team - which includes Orioles No. 1 draft choice Nick Markakis - left this week to compete in a European tournament that begins Saturday in Holland, which could lead to a berth in the Olympic qualifying round.
Sun staff writer Peter Schmuck contributed to this article.
