Bordick sticks with Orioles

Three-time all-star Pat Hengen will be with the Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have re-signed Mike Bordick on a two-year contract.

The shortstop, who was traded to the New York Mets in July, was paid $3.08m (£2.08m) last season - financial details of his new deal were not disclosed.

The Washington Post newspaper reported that the team has agreed terms with first baseman-designated hitter David Segui on a four-year, $28m contract.

The Orioles also signed former Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old right-hander played with the St Louis Cardinals last season, finishing with a 4.77 ERA for the National League's Central Division champions.

Most Valuable Player

The Orioles, reeling from the departure of Mike Mussina to World Series champions New York Yankees, moved quickly to replace him with Hentgen.

The three-time all-star has a 120-88 career record with a 4.21 ERA in nine major league seasons.

Meanwhile the Houston Astros baseman Jeff Bagwell has signed a five-year contract extension worth $85m.

The deal will keep the former National League Most Valuable Player at Houston until the 2006 season.

Jeff Bagwell signed a $85m contract

The 32-year-old, who has recorded 310 home runs in his career, decided to pledge his loyalty with the Astros.

"I'm very proud I'm going to finish my career as a Houston Astro," he said.

"I don't want to win anywhere else. I want to win here and that's what it all came down to."

Bagwell admitted he could have got more money elsewhere, especially after Alex Rodriguez signed a $250m 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers.

Multi-million dollar deal

Another player who has agreed a new deal is Matt Stairs of the Chicago Cubs.

The outfielder/first baseman will put pen to paper on a one-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Stairs earned $3.05 million last season with the Oakland Athletics.

Over the past four seasons Stairs has hit 112 home runs while driving in 362 runs, an average of 28 homers and 91 RBI per year. He knocked in 106 runs in 1998 and 102 in 1999.