Orioles sign 2B Roberts to two-year extension

Mar 14, 2007 - 4:38 PM FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Orioles have locked up their leadoff hitter through the 2009 season as second baseman Brian Roberts signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed. However, the Baltimore Sun is reporting the deal to be worth $14.3 million.

Just under six weeks ago, Roberts averted arbitration by signing a one-year contract worth $4.2 million, a raise of $1.1 million from the previous season.

Roberts, 29, batted .286 with 10 home runs, 55 RBI and a career-high 36 stolen bases last season, his sixth with the Orioles. The 5-9 sparkplug rebounded nicely from offseason elbow surgery, appearing in 138 games.

A favorite among Orioles fans, Roberts has spent his entire career in Baltimore, batting .280 with 40 homers, 250 RBI and 136 steals.

Roberts enjoyed his finest season in 2005 when he batted .314 with 18 homers and 73 RBI - all career highs - en route to his only All-Star appearance. He had his banner campaign cut short in September when he suffered a devasting elbow injury which required surgery.