DENVER -- After utility man Melvin Mora reached a one-year, $1.275 million contract agreement with the Rockies a few days ago -- one that was officially announced on Friday afternoon -- manager Jim Tracy and club officials dialed up Mora for a conference call.
Club owners Dick and Charlie Monfort, team president Keli McGregor and general manager Dan O'Dowd wanted to get to know their new player. They asked if there was a position Mora wasn't ready to play.
"He said catcher, that he'd need a few days to work at it," Tracy said. "It got a laugh, but I think Melvin was making a statement: Just let me get to Spring Training in Tucson and start running around out there, and let me show that I'm capable of doing anything it takes to help the team win."
Mora, who turned 38 on Tuesday, has played every position but catcher and pitcher in a career that has seen him appear in 1,401 games with the Mets (1999-2000) and Orioles (2000-09), plus 12 postseason contests and two All-Star Games.
Mora appeared in 125 games for the Orioles last year, with all of his defensive innings coming at third base, and hit .260 with eight home runs and 48 RBIs.
Mora has been an infielder since 2004, but he has worked on his versatility this offseason and Tracy said he could be used in the outfield. The manager added that he could use Mora at second base and move Clint Barmes to shortstop when Troy Tulowitzki has a day off. Tracy said third base is not in the original plan, because the Rockies want to give left-handed slugger Ian Stewart the opportunity to hit right- and left-handed pitching.
When Mora starts, Tracy said, he envisions him hitting behind left-handed power hitter Brad Hawpe, who likely will bat fifth.
Mora's presence also gives the Rockies a ready-made starter in case one of the regulars is injured.
"From the day I started managing in 2001 with the Dodgers, I said I want a solid bench, and those guys will get regular playing time," Tracy said. "If we have someone get hurt, we're not in a position where we're saying, 'What do we do?'"
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