Blue Jays sign Bordick for $1 million Former UMaine star expected to take role as backup shortstop, utility player

Toronto Blue Jays third base coach and infield instructor Brian Butterfield used to make his young infielders watch Baltimore Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick take ground balls during infield practice.

They’ll get plenty of time to watch him take ground balls this coming season after Winterport native Bordick signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays for $1 million. He had made $5 million with the Orioles this past season.

Bordick, who failed to agree on a deal with the Orioles and wasn’t offered salary arbitration, will back up 26-year-old Chris Woodward.

“I love it,” said Butterfield. “The Blue Jays had been talking about getting somebody as an insurance policy for Chris and Mike is even more than that.

“You know he can play shortstop but he can also play on the other side of the bag [second base] if he’s needed there,” said Butterfield. “He can play anywhere in the infield.”

Second baseman Orlando Hudson just turned 25. Woodward has 171 major league games under his belt and Hudson has 54. Bordick has played in 1,631 games.

“I told Mike when he was in Oakland several years ago that if I was going to make a videotape on how to play shortstop, he would be the guy I would use in the videotape,” added Butterfield. “He does it all. He is the most fundamentally sound shortstop in baseball.”

The 37-year-old Bordick, who will be the oldest player on the Blue Jays’ youthful roster, is coming off a remarkable season in which he set the major league record for shortstops by playing 110 consecutive errorless games and by handling 543 straight errorless chances.

The former University of Maine star hit .232 over 117 games with eight homers and 36 runs batted in. He is career .259 hitter.

“He still has some ability with the bat. And he does a lot of little things to help you out [like sacrificing and moving runners],” said Butterfield, the former Orono High School three-sports standout and University of Maine second baseman.

Butterfield also feels Bordick’s work ethic and clubhouse presence will be positive additions to the Toronto organization and he expects him to be a “tremendous influence on Chris. Chris is a sponge [who soaks up knowledge he learns from his coaches and teammates].”

Butterfield said Woodward is “very fundamentally sound and has a tremendous throwing arm” but he has been injury-prone throughout his career.

Bordick could not be reached for comment.