Bordick to test waters of his new free agency> Former UMaine star hopes to stay with A’s

With the labor agreement between the Major League owners and players having been ratified, including an item that gives players credit for service time for the strike period, Oakland Athletics shortstop Mike Bordick of Winterport finds himself a free agent.

“I’m excited about testing the market to see what’s out there,” said the 31-year-old Bordick. “Ultimately, I’d like to go back to Oakland. I believe strongly in staying with one team as long as you possibly can. They gave me the opportunity to play in the major leagues. I owe them a lot. I’m willing to do what I can to stay there.”

If Oakland doesn’t offer him a contract or it isn’t up to his expectations, Bordick’s wish list includes “a team that has the opportunity to win. I could say a team closer to home but if I left Oakland, any team I went to would be closer to home [in Auburn].”

Bordick made $1.3 million this past season and finished up hitting .240 with five homers and career-high 54 runs batted in. He made 16 errors in 155 games. He had 18 doubles, four triples and scored 46 times. The former University of Maine star struck out 59 times and drew 52 walks.

His excitement about free agency has been matched by the fact the labor dispute is over.

“Like anybody, I’m also a fan,” said Bordick. “Tuesday was a real important day in baseball. I don’t think baseball will ever get back to where it was. But this is a good starting point.”

Bordick said his 1996 season was full of “ups and downs.

“There were a lot of downs that I tried to battle through most of the summer,” said Bordick. “I didn’t make the right adjustments until it was pretty late in the season. It was trying, mentally.

“Fortunately, it ended on a good note. I was able to rebuild my confidence. That’s what hitting is all about,” said Bordick, who is a career .258 hitter with Oakland.

There will be interleague play next season and Bordick said although he considers himself a traditionalist, he feels it will be interesting and beneficial.

“It’s another thing to spark fan interest and help baseball rebound a little bit,” said Bordick. “And there are so many rivals. You’ve got Oakland and San Francisco. There’s the [Chicago] White Sox and the Cubs.”

Bordick hopes to keep playing baseball as long as he can.

“I want to play until they take the spikes off me,” said Bordick. “I’m still having a lot of fun. I love what I’m doing.”