Hardy no longer answering contract questions

TORONTO -- Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who returned to the O's lineup on Wednesday night for the series finale against the Blue Jays, will no longer discuss the status of his contract, which has him set to be a free agent at the end of this year.

Hardy, who has respectfully fielded questions from reporters since Spring Training, said he did not want to distract from the Orioles' pursuits on the field and that rather than comment and risk a misunderstanding, he would refrain from speaking on the matter until there was actual news.

"There's nothing to discuss," Hardy said of any extension talks between his agent and the Orioles. "I don't want to make stories that don't need to be made. There's been no discussions, so I do not want to talk about it anymore until something changes."