BALTIMORE, Maryland, 22 December 2003 — With their starting rotation already thin, baseball’s Baltimore Orioles apparently have big plans in mind.

The Orioles declined to tender contracts to right-hander Jason Johnson and left-hander Damian Moss on Saturday, allowing both to become free agents and opening up two more spots in their rotation.

After making the biggest news at the winter meetings in New Orleans last weekend by signing shortstop Miguel Tejada to a six-year, $72 million contract, the Orioles have yet to address their shaky pitching situation. Along with Rodrigo Lopez, Johnson and Moss figured to form the front end of the starting rotation.

Johnson, 30, led Baltimore with a career high-tying 10 wins in 2003. While posting a 4.18 ERA in 32 games, he lost 10 and went winless in his last nine starts.

In 149 career games with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and the Orioles, including 16 relief appearances, Johnson is 36-58 with three complete games and a 4.91 ERA.

Acquired from San Francisco in the July 31 trade involving Sidney Ponson, Moss went 1-5 with a 6.22 ERA in 10 games with Baltimore, including nine starts. The 27-year-old Australian, who began his career with Atlanta, posted a 9-7 record with the Giants before the deal.

Moss is 22-18 with a 4.22 ERA in 69 career games.

Rodriguez’s Agent Blames Red Sox, Rangers for Deal’s Collapse

In New York, Alex Rodriguez’s agent headed home to California on Saturday, blaming the Red Sox and Texas Rangers for the collapse of the deal that would have sent the shortstop to Boston.

Rodriguez took a wait-and-see approach, saying Saturday he didn’t want to comment publicly on the status of the on-and-off-deal, which came apart Thursday but may revive at some point before spring training.

Rodriguez, who has spent the week in New York on vacation with his wife, planned to leave town.

The Red Sox proclaimed the trade “dead” Thursday, blaming the players’ association for not approving a $28 million-to-$30 million reduction in Rodriguez’s $252 million, 10-year contract. Texas, also blaming the union, said it wasn’t prepared to say talks were over.