Steve Davis: Orioles Dump Matusz, Save $3 Million
There was a lot of wheeling and dealing by Dan Duquette on Monday night.
At the end of the day, it looks like the headline is that the Orioles wanted to get rid of Brian Matusz and got the Braves to pick up the tab for the $3 million he is still owed. Why did the Braves do it? Not because they wanted Matusz; they don't. They wanted the 76th overall pick the Orioles gave them in next month's draft, and the additional $1 million in slotting money they picked up for getting that draft pick.
So essentially, the Braves deemed the 76th pick and an extra $1 million to spend on draft picks worth $3 million and the Orioles didn't. It's hard to fault the Orioles. Matusz has been terrible, and the Orioles went over-budget on this year's team.
Now, they can get rid of him and not have to eat his contract. That might make it easier for Dan Duquette to add payroll later this summer or dump a contract like Kim if needs to. I do think it will be hard to eat Ubaldo's contract, which has more than $20 million left on it.
Without Matusz, they have more flexibility in the bullpen to move relievers up and down as they see fit.
