BALTIMORE -- Shortstop Alex Cintron filed for free agency on Friday, becoming the third Oriole to do so in the first two days of eligibility.
Cintron played in 61 games for Baltimore last season, batting .286 with 10 RBIs in 133 at-bats. Veterans Kevin Millar and Jay Payton filed for free agency Thursday, and Juan Castro may still file at some point in the future.
Cintron, who has played in the big leagues in each of the last eight seasons, briefly held the starting shortstop slot for the Orioles. He succeeded Luis Hernandez and Freddie Bynum and subsequently lost the job to Castro. Cintron also filled in at third base, second base and first base for Baltimore, providing the team with a versatile glove on the bench.
Cintron, who will turn 30 in December, is a career .277 hitter in 659 big league games. The former 36th-round Draft pick also played 16 games for Triple-A Norfolk last year, batting .288 with 10 RBIs in 66 at-bats. Cintron, a switch-hitter, may still negotiate with the Orioles for a reserve job at some point, but Baltimore appears ready to try a different starting solution.
Cintron played in 61 games for Baltimore last season, batting .286 with 10 RBIs in 133 at-bats. Veterans Kevin Millar and Jay Payton filed for free agency Thursday, and Juan Castro may still file at some point in the future.
Cintron, who has played in the big leagues in each of the last eight seasons, briefly held the starting shortstop slot for the Orioles. He succeeded Luis Hernandez and Freddie Bynum and subsequently lost the job to Castro. Cintron also filled in at third base, second base and first base for Baltimore, providing the team with a versatile glove on the bench.
Cintron, who will turn 30 in December, is a career .277 hitter in 659 big league games. The former 36th-round Draft pick also played 16 games for Triple-A Norfolk last year, batting .288 with 10 RBIs in 66 at-bats. Cintron, a switch-hitter, may still negotiate with the Orioles for a reserve job at some point, but Baltimore appears ready to try a different starting solution.