Jim Beattie won't return in 2006 as

executive vice president of the Baltimore Orioles, a move

that could signify the beginning of wide-ranging shakeup in

the wake of the team's eighth straight losing season.

 

Beattie told people Monday at a charity golf outing in the

Baltimore area that he would not be back. His contract

expires at the end of this month.

 

There was no word on the status of vice president Mike

Flanagan, who worked with Beattie in the Orioles' front

office. It was also uncertain whether the Orioles would

retain interim manager Sam Perlozzo, who took over for

manager Lee Mazzilli on Aug. 4.

 

Phone calls from The Associated Press to Orioles owner

Peter Angelos, Beattie and Perlozzo were not immediately

returned.

 

Beattie and Flanagan were hired as a tandem on Dec. 4,

2002, to replace Syd Thrift. Beattie was appointed executive

vice president of baseball operations, and Flanagan received

the title of vice president of baseball operations.

 

Their job, akin to that of a general manager, included

finding talent, stocking the farm system and hiring the

manager and coaches.

 

Their best acquisition was signing shortstop Miguel Tejada

to a six-year contract in December 2003. But the duo also

hired Mazzilli, who was dismissed last August after the

Orioles lost 16 of 18 in the middle of second season, and

acquired Sammy Sosa, who hit only .221 with 14 homers and 45

RBIs.

 

Beattie and Flanagan failed to secure a solid starting

pitcher before the 2005 season, a shortcoming that went

uncorrected through the July 31 non-waiver deadline. They

were also responsible for giving Sidney Ponson a three-year,

$22.5 million contract in January 2004.

 

Ponson went 11-15 in 2004 and was 7-11 with a 6.21 ERA

this season before the Orioles terminated his contract in

September after he was charged with drunk driving for the

second time this year.

 

Beattie pitched in the majors for nine years and served as

vice president and general manager of the Montreal Expos from

1995 through 2001. Before that, he was the Seattle Mariners'

director of player development.

 

News of his dismissal was first reported by WMAR-TV.

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those characteristic line breaks make all of the articles you post totally unreadable.