Bordick would mull Sox offer

Although he still doesn’t have a contract, former Baltimore Orioles record-setting shortstop and University of Maine star Mike Bordick said he is encouraged about the prospects of playing next season.

And the Red Sox are a possibility. Bordick’s agent, Joe Bick, talked to several teams during the recently-concluded winter meetings in Nashville, including the Red Sox.

“Four or five teams expressed interest in me as a utility player; a couple of others talked about having me play second base and a couple more about shortstop,” said the 37-year-old Bordick, who concluded this past season by playing 110 consecutive errorless games.

That is a major league record for shortstops as were the 543 consecutive errorless chances. He made only one error and compiled a .998 fielding percentage.

Bordick, whose wife, Monica, is expecting their fifth child on Feb. 6, said he wouldn’t mind being a utility player in the right situation.

“There are opportunities out there for utility guys to play a lot and contribute to the team. I would love to do that. I wouldn’t enjoy sitting on the bench for 10 to 12 days in a row, playing on a Saturday morning and sitting the next two weeks,” said Bordick.

Winterport native Bordick and his family have a home in the Baltimore area so he would prefer to stay on the East Coast.

“But if a West Coast team made me an offer that knocked my socks off; the team was headed in the right direction [playoff contender] and I could contribute, I wouldn’t hesitate to go out there,” said Bordick whose family would stay in their Maryland home.

Bordick, a career .259 hitter with 86 homers, 572 runs batted in, 239 doubles and 637 runs scored, would be a utility player with the Red Sox. He has a career fielding percentage of .982 over 1,631 games and has been involved in 1,068 double plays.

He said if the deal was right, he wouldn’t hesitate to sign with Boston.

“Heck, what kid who grew up in New England wouldn’t want to play with the Red Sox?” said Bordick. “I know they have some good players over there. I’ve always respected the way Lou Merloni plays his utility role.”

Bordick earned $5 million last season and knows he isn’t going to make that much next season. He failed to agree on a deal with the Orioles last weekend and they decided not to offer him salary arbitration.

“I knew going in I would have to take a pay cut if I was going to go back to the Orioles,” said Bordick. “I was hurt for most of 2001 and for a month last year. But I was hoping there would be some incentives [bonuses] if I ended up playing 150 games. I wanted to be paid like a major league shortstop.”

That didn’t happen so Bordick is available.

It will be interesting if he winds up going to a team as a utility player. That is how he broke into the major leagues.

In his first 281 major league games from 1990-92, he was a shortstop in 163 of them; a second baseman in 107 and a third baseman in 11 games.

His versatility significantly increased his value and opened doors for him. Once given the chance to prove himself, he did so and became a solid everyday shortstop.

His impressive year-round work ethic, unselfishness, passion for the game, easy-going personality and prominence in charity work make him an attractive addition to any organization.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231 or 1-800-310-8600. His email address is lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.