Mora

* The Orioles say they won't exercise third baseman Melvin Mora's $8 million option for the 2010 season, an expected move that will likely end his 9 1/2-year tenure with the club. "I'll never close my doors to the Orioles," Mora said. PG 8 * Former Indians coach Jeff Datz is named bench coach, replacing Dave Jauss. PG 8

Melvin Mora's retirement has been greatly exaggerated. Or at least exaggerated for this country, he claims. A report out of Venezuela last month said that Mora, who played most of his career with the Orioles, issued a tearful retirement announcement while playing winter ball in Venezuela. The story ran in several places, including The Sun. But Mora said that was news to him. Despite multiple reports to the contrary out of Venezuela, Mora said what he announced was that he was no longer going to play in Venezuela because he didn't want to leave his family every year.

A process that started in December appears to be finally nearing an end as the Orioles have all but finalized a three-year contract extension with an option for a fourth season with third baseman Melvin Mora. The deal, according to sources close to the negotiations, is likely for $24 million over three years with a $1 million buyout for the fourth option year. Mora will also likely get no-trade protection for the three years on his deal, according to sources. An official announcement by the club won't come until Mora passes a physical, which could happen before the weekend.

According to a report out of Venezuela, former longtime Oriole Melvin Mora announced his retirement from major league baseball Thursday while in his home country. Mora, who will turn 40 in February, was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks last June after hitting .228 in 127 at-bats for the Diamondbacks. He said earlier this winter that he wanted to play again if he could find the right opportunity, but apparently that did not happen. Mora was traded to the Orioles by the New York Mets in July 2000 as part of then-GM Syd Thrift's fire sale.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-- --The distinction went to Cal Ripken Jr., then Miguel Tejada and now Melvin Mora. The Orioles usually reserve the prime locker in the home clubhouse at Fort Lauderdale Stadium for a high-profile veteran. This year, Mora got the nod after the offseason trade of Tejada. Brian Roberts and Kevin Millar apparently finished as runners-up, with their lockers to Mora's right. So what did it all mean for Mora, the longest-tenured Oriole? "Trouble," Mora said. "It means trouble."

CLEVELAND - Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora insists he didn't hear the criticism that resulted from two straight years of declining offensive numbers. He wasn't aware of the mounting opinion that he is on the downside of his career and no longer was a productive middle of the lineup hitter. And if he had heard all those things, it wouldn't have made much of an impact on the 36-year-old anyway. "I don't have nothing to prove. I've already done my job. You can check my numbers with all the third baseman in baseball right now and you can see for yourself," Mora said last night.

Laura VecseyIT IS A STROKE of luck the way this has worked out. It's probably as much a reason for the Orioles being at the top of the American League East as anything: Miguel Tejada at shortstop and, next to him, Melvin Mora at third base. There is synergy here, the kind that produces energy. "That's why we're winning. Everyone is happy. Everyone is joking around," Tejada said. Yes, and no. They can joke because they are so at ease, so in tune, winning. Yesterday afternoon, Tejada and Mora headlined a group of Orioles who visited a Latin festival in Patterson Park.

Melvin Mora is new to the option year concept, but he's learning a little more about the business side of baseball every day. Over the weekend, for instance, he found out that talk is cheap. He met face-to-face with Orioles owner Peter Angelos on Friday and showed up at RFK Stadium that night with a big smile on his face -- all but certain that he had established a rapport with his employer that would lead to an improved offer from the team. That probably would have been a fair assumption in any other organization, since Mora and agent Lon Babby took the unusual step of bidding against themselves and knocking another $3 million off their asking price.

It would have been perfect timing, simultaneously a good-news proclamation and a well-placed diversion. With former closer B.J. Ryan making his first trip to Camden Yards as a Toronto Blue Jay this week, it would have been an ideal time for the Orioles to announce that third baseman Melvin Mora had been signed to a three-year contract extension. In essence, it would have shown fans that the Orioles learned their lesson after not signing Ryan when he would have been a bargain last March.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Acknowledging that he felt disrespected by the Venezuelan Baseball Federation, Orioles All-Star third baseman Melvin Mora has decided not to play for his country in the World Baseball Classic. Mora made his decision after being informed that Venezuelan team officials planned on playing him in center field, not at third base, for the March tournament. "I know there's going to be a [controversy] in Venezuela: `Why isn't Melvin [going] to be in the Baseball Classic?

Baseball Former Oriole Mora signs with Diamondbacks The Diamondbacks signed former Oriole Melvin Mora to a one-year contract worth $2 million on Monday. Mora, who batted .285 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs in 354 plate appearances for the Colorado Rockies this season, is expected to help replace third baseman Mark Reynolds , whom the Diamondbacks traded to the Orioles earlier in the day. Mora, who will be 39 in February, will split time at third with Geoff Blum , 37, who was signed to a two-year contract last month.

— Wait around long enough and anything can happen in baseball. Case in point: Melvin Mora, now of the Colorado Rockies, thinks the Orioles' horrendous start is not the fault of manager Dave Trembley, a man Mora didn't exactly mesh with in Baltimore. "In the bottom of my heart, I don't think this losing has [anything] to do with Trembley," Mora said in a phone conversation with The Baltimore Sun on Sunday. "But somebody needs to get fired or somebody needs to start winning.

The Colorado Rockies on Friday finalized a one-year, $1.3 million contract with infielder Melvin Mora , 38, who spent the past 10 seasons with the Orioles. He will back up young slugger Ian Stewart at third base, a position where he played 809 games for the Orioles. The versatile Mora has played every infield and outfield position in his career. In 2003, he made the American League All-Star team as an outfielder. He won the AL Gold Glove award at third base the following year.

In the final year of a fairly distinguished decade in Baltimore, Melvin Mora struggled to the worst offensive numbers of his career. He morphed from good soldier into unhappy camper. He complained about the way he was being used by manager Dave Trembley. He seemed tired of being an Oriole, and a lot of people - both inside the organization and in the stands - seemed tired of him, too. Sad but true. So, when his contract expired, it was pretty clear that the team would make no effort to retain him. The Orioles signed Garrett Atkins and Miguel Tejada to fill openings at the two corner infield positions, and Mora recently agreed to terms on a one-year deal to be a utility player for the Colorado Rockies.

I n the final year of a fairly distinguished decade in Baltimore, Melvin Mora struggled to the worst offensive numbers of his career. He morphed from good soldier into unhappy camper. He complained about the way he was being used by manager Dave Trembley. He seemed tired of being an Oriole, and a lot of people - both inside the organization and in the stands - seemed tired of him, too. Sad but true. So, when his contract expired, it was pretty clear that the team would make no effort to retain him. The Orioles signed Garrett Atkins and Miguel Tejada to fill openings at the two corner infield positions, and Mora recently agreed to terms on a one-year deal to be a utility player for the Colorado Rockies.

Although it had been anticipated for months, Melvin Mora's career with the Orioles officially ended Sunday when he agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal to be a utility player with the Colorado Rockies. The contract is pending a physical examination this week. "I do have to get a physical, but I think they'll give me more money because I am stronger than ever before," Mora said jokingly in a phone conversation from Venezuela. Mora, who turns 38 next Sunday, knew toward the end of last year that he wouldn't be returning to Camden Yards for his 11th season but said it still is not an easy thing to accept.

Melvin Mora wanted to remain an Oriole for the foreseeable future, and never wavered. The Orioles didn't want to lose a player who has become an All-Star in their uniform and one of the faces of the franchise. After nearly four months of negotiations on a contract extension that often produced little but frustration, both the third baseman and the team have gotten their wish. Mora took a physical yesterday and has verbally agreed to a three-year deal with an option for a fourth season worth a guaranteed $25 million, said sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

This isn't just what the Orioles needed to do. It's what they had to do. In what looks like another playoff-less season, give the Orioles credit for signing third baseman Melvin Mora yesterday to a three-year, $24 million extension (with a $1 million option buyout) that keeps him here through at least 2009. Sure, it took longer than it should have. Sure, a less loyal player may have pulled the plug on negotiations at the end of March. And, sure, Mora will be in his late 30s before this contract expires, leaving no guarantee he'll keep up the production that has made him one of the league's best third basemen over the past two-plus seasons.

Although it had been anticipated for months, Melvin Mora's career with the Orioles officially ended today when he agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal to be a utility player with the Colorado Rockies. The contract is pending a physical examination this week. "I do have to get a physical, but I think they'll give me more money because I am stronger than ever before," Mora said jokingly in a phone conversation from Venezuela. Mora, who turns 38 next Sunday, knew toward the end of last year that he wouldn't be returning to Camden Yards for his 11th season, but said it still is not an easy thing to accept.