Left-handed reliever Brian Matusz has a “robust” market, and is getting several trade inquiries, says Oriole’s GM Dan Duquette.
The Orioles have four lefthanded relievers, counting closer Zach Britton, so it’s a possibility, writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, who also adds that after the Mets’ interest leaked out in Matusz many other teams became interested.
Of course the Mets have never been one to engage in a feisty competition with other teams for the services of any ballplayer, let alone a reliever set to make $3.2 million.
While the Mets have yet to engage the Orioles at all according to Mike Puma, if they did they’d spend more time trying to get them to eat some dollars rather than exchange player names. And many believe the Orioles could deal Matusz without having to eat any dollars.
So where does that leave the Mets? Basically where they’ve been for the last five months on this issue.
March 22
Joel Sherman of the New York Post confirms earlier reports that Sandy Alderson and the Mets are actively in the market for a lefty reliever for their bullpen.
Sherman says that the Mets remain interested in Orioles reliever/starter Brian Matusz.
He proposes a possible deal that would entail the O’s giving Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett back to the Mets so that he could then be included as part of a deal to acquire Matusz.
Verrett is having an excellent spring, as is Matusz, but the Orioles may not have room to keep him on the 25 man roster.
Having the Mets trade him to them would allow the O’s to option Verrett to the minors – something they are prohibited from doing right now.
It sounds like something like this could have legs – especially if it’s true that the O’s are very willing to pay a portion of the $3.2 million that’s owed to Matusz.
March 18
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports the Orioles are open to trading left-handed reliever Brian Matusz, but his $3.2 million salary and remaining year of arbitration likely will give prospective suitors pause.
He adds that the Mets have scouted Matusz, and while the Orioles are willing to include cash in a deal, the Mets may prefer other options, major-league sources told him.
Not exactly sure what those other options are, but I’d bet they cost much less than $3.2 million or even less than $2 million.
March 16
The Mets have been scouting Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, according to Dan Martin in the New York Post.
Matusz is a starter turned reliever with the Baltimore Orioles, making the switch during the 2012 season. In 2014, Matusz posted a 2-3 record with a 3.48 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings pitched.
Left-handed batters hit .223/.277/.350 against him, compared to .277/.351/.525 for righty batters.
Matusz is owed $3.2 million for 2015, is arbitration eligible in 2016 and becomes a free agent after that season.
Marc Carig of Newsday reports that former Met Dana Eveland has an opt-out clause with the Red Sox and is unlikely to make their Opening Day roster. He could also be on the Mets radar despite saying they had no interest in him during the offseason.
Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, reported that even pitching coach Dan Warthen acknowledged to an extent that the talent level among the current group of Scott Rice, Sean Gilmartin, Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich is lacking.
Asked after Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays about the lack of production from that quartet in spring-training games, Warthen essentially said that’s what would be expected.
“Most of them haven’t had great production anyway,” Warthen said. “Scotty Rice just came off of a surgery. He’s still finding release points on his sinker, so a lot of them are below the zone. The rest of them, Dario has not been exactly a strike thrower, nor has Leathersich. And it’s really our first time with Gilmartin, so I’m still making observations on him.”
That’s the latest…
