The former Toronto catcher, now with the Baltimore Orioles, said on Wednesday at the team’s spring training facility at Ed Smith Stadium that he’s not about holding grudges against the Blue Jays, who let him walk after the 2013 season.
“You just have to understand that stuff, anyone could write anything; they don’t owe me an apology, they don’t have to come and say anything,” said Arencibia. “I feel like that’s part of the business, and you start to not take things personal.”
A non-roster invitee to Baltimore’s 2015 spring training camp, Arencibia takes some responsibility for negative comments he made about television analysts Gregg Zaun and Dirk Hayhurst.
“It was my own fault for attacking Gregg and Dirk,” said Arencibia about his reaction to critical remarks made by the commentators. “And so the repercussions were based on what I did, but I think that was the hard part of it.”
The Miami native had a batting average of .212, with 275 hits and 193 RBI during his four-year tenure with the Jays. In 63 games with the Texas Rangers last season, he managed only .177, with 36 hits, 35 RBI and 10 home runs, his worst statistical season since his rookie year.