Brian Matusz to the Mets – What’s Taking So Long?

We all know at least one. The Orioles fan who makes ridiculous demands of his or her team’s front office. Their lack of baseball IQ is matched only by their insistence that any idiot can run a baseball team. They’ve fallen for one of the classic blunders. the most famous, of course, is never start a land war in Asia. But only slightly less well known is this:

My trash for your treasure.

Why? Why does anyone think this will work? How many trade proposals did you hear from armchair GMs this offseason, with grand plans to trade off Ubaldo Jimenez in a package for some other team’s star player?

With that said, I’m trying to find out what is taking so long with the Brian-Matusz-to-Mets transaction. Yes, much like the clueless fan referenced above, I have been calling for the Orioles to part ways with Matusz for quite some time. I don’t have anything against the guy, it’s just that as a former first round pick, and now clearly a bust as a starter, I don’t think he has a role on this team. Sure, he’s nice to have, but he’s expensive and the job can be done by younger, cheaper arms. As soon as he struggled, I assumed that he would never return to form as a dominant reliever, and never expected the O’s to continue to pick up his increasing salary, combined with diminishing results.

But I was wrong. The team tendered him a contract this year, picking up his $3.2MM salary, and committing to yet another inflexible piece in what has become a rigid bullpen.

I was surprised to hear that they were stretching Brian Matusz out, with some Spring Training starts. At first, I assumed it was because Buck Showalter doesn’t like letting AL East opponents see his starters. But then I realized… they’re shopping him. Then came the rumors, the Mets being a prime match.

So what is taking so long? I understand these things take time to percolate, but Dan Duquette noted on Sunday’s broadcast that deals can now be made via text. It’s the 21st century, get on with it, Orioles!! The Mets clearly have a need. And by “clearly have a need,” I mean, that due to injury depletion, the Mets have named Bartolo Colon their opening day starter.

Matusz is not trash, but still, we’re not talking about getting David Wright in return. The obvious answer is to acquire full rights to Rule 5 draft pick Logan Verrett, which would allow the Orioles to send him to the minors, and keep him in the organization. I’m not sure that Matusz is worth much more.

To his credit, he has been answering the bell. In 10.0 IP (fourth on the team), he has allowed a single earned run, and struck out 10 in comparison to 7 walks. He has gotten outs against lefties and righties. He… has looked pretty good. I don’t think this is the rebirth of a starting career in Baltimore. He is either a “change of scenery” candidate, or a bullpen arm.

It’s possible the Orioles are holding out for more than Verrett. It would seem to fit their recent modus operandi, as the haul they demanded from the Blue Jays torpedoed the Dan Duquette deal. Still, it seems likely that the Orioles will either have to deal Matusz, or return him to a bullpen role, so that the pitchers who will actually be getting the starts can take advantage of the remaining Grapefruit League schedule.

This armchair GM thinks this is an easy call. What’s taking so long?!