Orioles Sub Clark for Palmeiro

Five years later, Will Clark finally joined the Baltimore Orioles--and only because Rafael Palmeiro is back with the Texas Rangers.

Clark replaced the man he once displaced in Texas, agreeing Saturday to an $11-million, two-year contract with Baltimore.

“Five years ago, if you’d have written a script it would have had Rafael going to Texas and I’d have gone to Baltimore,” Clark said. “But the roles got reversed and five years later we’re back to the same roles.”

Clark, who batted .305 with 23 home runs and 102 runs batted in for Texas last season, became expendable when the Rangers agreed Tuesday to a $45-million, five-year contract with Palmeiro, the Orioles’ first baseman for the past five seasons.

When the Orioles sought a first baseman after the 1993 season, they looked at Clark, but he signed with Texas, causing Palmeiro, also a free agent, to leave the Rangers and sign with Baltimore.

Boston, looking for a first baseman to replace Mo Vaughn, talked with Clark too. But Baltimore “called him in the middle of the week and came on like gangbusters,” according to Clark’s agent, Jeff Moorad.

“The discussions five years ago actually paved the way for the agreement today,” Moorad said.

Clark’s agreement capped a busy week for the Orioles. On Tuesday, they agreed to a $65-million, five-year contract with Albert Belle and acquired catcher Charles Johnson in a three-way trade involving the Dodgers and New York Mets.

Baltimore agreed Friday to a $12.5-million, three-year contract with second baseman Delino DeShields and re-signed outfielder B.J. Surhoff for $14 million over three years.

“We’re trying to change the tide, the intensity and the way the guys here approach the game,” said Frank Wren, the Orioles’ new general manager. “I don’t think there’s a better guy in terms of the way he approaches the game than Will Clark. And that doesn’t even touch on his hitting.”

Clark said the flurry of changes--and a conversation with Baltimore Manager Ray Miller--convinced him the Orioles were intent on winning.

“Ray made it apparent that the Orioles wanted me,” Clark said. “When you feel wanted it makes you feel better about yourself and it makes you play better.”

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Bobby Estalella, starting catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies for more than two months last season, will be out until at least mid-May because of a torn right rotator cuff.

Estalella, 24, who underwent arthroscopic surgery for the injury Thursday in Miami, had been playing winter ball in Puerto Rico when pain in his right shoulder forced him to return to Philadelphia for an examination.