Orioles, SS Izturis Agree To $1.5M, 1-Year Deal

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles have reached agreement on a $1.5 million, one-year contract with shortstop Cesar Izturis, who
will apparently compete for a utility job behind newcomer J.J. Hardy.

Izutris agreed to terms on Friday, according to Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. The deal, which includes performance bonuses based on plate appearances and starts, will be finalized when Izturis passes a physical.

The 29-year-old Izturis hit .230 with one homer and 28 RBIs in 150 games, but his value to the team is his glove. A former Gold Glove winner, Izturis made only nine errors in 2010 and had a fielding percentage of .985.

Hardy came to the Orioles in a trade with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. The 28-year-old hit .268 with six homers and 38 RBIs last season. He was an All-Star in 2007 with Milwaukee when he batted .277 with 26 homers and 80 RBIs.

"We're looking for a little more offense to our regular shortstop position, and we're confident he can provide that," MacPhail said after announcing the trade.

Izturis is a .256 hitter over 10 seasons. He started for the Orioles in 2009 and last season after spending time with Toronto, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.

He has a fielding percentage of .980 over 1,152 games.

The Orioles also have backup shortstop Robert Andino on the roster.

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