The Orioles made the inevitable official yesterday, saying they will not be bringing back outfielder Sammy Sosa or first baseman Rafael Palmeiro.
"At this point, we are heading in a different direction," club executive vice president Mike Flanagan said.
Palmeiro and Sosa, who were featured on the cover of the Orioles' 2005 media guide along with shortstop Miguel Tejada, have indicated that they would like to return to baseball in 2006.
But the prospects of either re-joining the Orioles dwindled dramatically after both suffered through nightmarish seasons.