FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -Jay Payton realizes he isn’t exactly a perfect fit in the Baltimore Orioles’ rebuilding program. He’s not sure if there’s a place for him in the outfield.
Heck, Payton doesn’t even know if he will be with the Orioles at the end of the month.
“I could be here all year, I could be here half the year, I could be here another five days,” he said Saturday upon his early arrival at spring training camp.
Payton has one season left on the two-year, $9 million contract he signed before the 2007 season. But is there a spot on the roster for a 35-year-old who batted .256 last year?
“I’m not 25, so I’m obviously not one of those young guys they’re looking for in the future,” he said. “It’s one of those things where, as an older guy, I’ve got to help these young guys out. I’ll do everything I can, but on the same note I’m still here to play baseball. I’m out here trying to win a job and win at-bats.”
His competition is a new breed of Oriole, young players like Luke Scott and Adam Jones. Even Tike Redman, at 30, has fresher legs than Payton.
“I know I’m probably not the quote-unquote favorite, but this is the fourth year I’ve gone into spring training as the fourth outfielder and I’ve gotten 400 at-bats every year,” Payton said. “So I’m not going to worry about my status too much.”
Manager Dave Trembley said: “I’m going to have to talk to him about what I see his role as being coming into camp. I know that he has some concern about that. We’ll exchange some ideas.”
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