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| Belle |
BALTIMORE -- Outfielder Albert Belle's future may be in
doubt because of a degenerative hip condition, according to
Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos.
"The problem that he has with the hip, while susceptible to
rehab and treatment, is not an absolute certainty to come around to
the level that he can function to which he once did," Angelos said
Thursday on WBAL-AM, the team's flagship station.
"There is no indication that he won't be able to continue, but
nonetheless it is an injury of serious proportions."
The Orioles would consider trading Belle if he can rehabilitate
the hip and waives his no-trade status, the team's majority owner
said.
Belle, 34, who earns $13 million per year, batted .281 this
season with 23 homers and 103 RBI. It was his ninth consecutive
season with 100 RBI or more, a record surpassed by only three
players in baseball history.
Angelos also took a tough stance on negotiations with pending
free-agent pitcher Mike Mussina, adding the team might acquire a
veteran starting pitcher.
Angelos said he might reduce the amount of deferred money in his
recent six-year, $72 million offer to Mussina, but wasn't inclined
to increase the total package.
"We're not in the business of making arrangements with baseball
players that border on economic insanity," the owner said.
"We aren't going to do that. We don't operate that way. We play
fair. We pay generously. We pay what is generous and proper. I
think $72 million to Mussina is plenty of money to Mussina."
Angelos added that he did not consider next year to be a
rebuilding year for the Orioles, who finished in fourth place for
the third straight season with a 74-88 record.
He was most critical of the team's bullpen, which he said will
be overhauled for the third straight season.
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