Former Orioles Huff still looking for job

This time last year, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora were heading into their contract years with significant momentum.

Huff was the 2008 Most Valuable Oriole and the American League Silver Slugger Award winner at designated hitter after batting .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBIs.

One disappointing season later, however, both Huff and Mora are without jobs as spring training approaches. The Orioles have shown no interest in retaining either player.

Neither says he is concerned -- yet.

"I'm not worried about it. I did the same thing with the Orioles" as a free agent in 2007, Huff said. "It seems like every year it gets later and later. I don't know why it is. I'm just chilling out. I haven't heard anything. I've talked to my agents, and they're pushing teams and looking around. But it seems like unless you are a [Matt] Holliday, [Jason] Bay or [ John] Lackey, you have to fall in line."

Huff, 33, batted .241 in 2009 with 15 homers and 85 RBIs. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers in August and ended the season dismally, hitting just .189 with two homers in 40 games as a part-timer.

"It was frustrating," Huff said. "I was expecting to be an everyday player, but it just didn't happen. ... There's no doubt when I played, it wasn't pretty. There are no excuses performing like I did, but I have been an everyday player my whole life, and the whole situation took me by surprise."

Typical of Huff's easygoing style, he's not stressed about the lack of suitors. He is heading this weekend to Las Vegas to hang out with friends.

"Something will come along; it always does," Huff said. "And if it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be."

Mora, meanwhile, said several clubs have contacted his agent, including the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels. Last month, Mora said, he spoke to Rockies manager Jim Tracy at length on the phone, and he said he talks regularly with Mets ace Johan Santana, who wants him to play for New York.

"You never know, but I hope not," Huff said. "If that's the case, I don't know what I'd do to be honest with you."