http://0rz.tw/1f5lf O's add Gomez to infield mix Veteran inked to Minor League deal with Spring Training invite By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com BALTIMORE -- The Orioles may be closer to rounding out their middle infield. The Baltimore Sun reported Friday that the Orioles have agreed to terms with veteran infielder Chris Gomez on a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training. Gomez played with Baltimore as recently as two seasons ago before departing in a trade and playing for the Pirates in 2008. The Orioles, who signed Cesar Izturis earlier this winter to start at shortstop, may want to use Gomez as a multi-positional reserve. The former third-round Draft pick has played all four infield positions in each of the past five seasons. Gomez played for Baltimore for three consecutive seasons, starting in 2005 and ending in '07, when he was traded to Cleveland. Gomez began his career with the Tigers, progressing through their Minor League system and playing with them for three seasons before being traded to San Diego. He stepped right in as the starting shortstop with the Padres and held that job for three-plus seasons, including San Diego's 1998 run to the World Series, which ended in a sweep against the Yankees. After leaving San Diego, he went on to secure starting roles with Tampa Bay and Toronto. Gomez served as a reserve for Minnesota in between those two stops. For his career, Gomez is a .262 hitter with 60 home runs and 487 RBIs in over 4,000 at-bats. He has been highly valued as a mentor in recent seasons, which is likely one of the reasons the Orioles acquired him. Baltimore added Ryan Freel as a multi-positional reserve earlier in the winter, but he came without the benefit of experience at shortstop. Gomez can help make up for that shortcoming and give the Orioles another dependable glove. And if Baltimore winds up trading second baseman Brian Roberts, Freel would likely take his spot and cede utility duties to Gomez. For now, though, Gomez still has to make the team, and his primary competition will come from Donnie Murphy, who signed a similar contract this winter. Gomez batted .273 in 90 games for Pittsburgh last season and has been consistently better against left-handed pitchers for his career, notching a .349 on-base mark against southpaws and a .316 mark against right-handers. --

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