After the non-waiver trade deadline of July 31st, the next big date in baseball is August 15th. That's the day teams have to have all their amatuer draft picks signed. The Orioles have signed 9 of their Top 10 picks, the only one missing being 1st rounder and 4th overall pick Brian Matusz. Matusz, a left-handed pitcher from the University of San Diego, was thought to be an easy sign when the Orioles drafted him in June. Negotiations stalled, and he remains unsigned. Matusz, a Junior at USD, could return to school in the fall if not signed and re-enter next year's draft.
However, according to the Baltimore Sun, Matusz is in Baltimore today for a physical and is expected to sign well before tomorrow night's midnight deadline. Most scouts predict Matusz as a top of the rotation pitcher, but he doesn't have an overpowering fastball. He sits in the low 90's, but he has outstanding control and very good breaking pitches, according to most scouts. It will be interesting to see what Matusz signs for, as the Orioles went well over slot-price to draft Matt Wieters last year. However, Wieters was the consensus top position player in the draft, one of the most highly rated players in years, and only fell to the Birds at #5 due to signability concerns. This year, the Orioles figured they wouldn't have to go much over the slight price of somewhere around 2.5 or 2.75 million dollars guranteed (They gave Wieters around 6 last year). However, with the talks being dragged out so long, there is some question as to what Matusz will sign for.
Much of the talks were held up because of the second pitcher taken in the draft, Aaron Crow, the right handed pitcher from Missouri. Crow, drafted by the Nationals at #9, has demanded top-dollard from the Nats, even as recently as this week signing with a independent league team to try and show he may be serious about not signing with Washington. The hold-up for the Birds has been, Matusz didn't want to sign with the Orioles, and then have the Nationals cave on Crow and give him a huge deal. Matusz, who went 5 picks higher, feels he shouldn't get less than Crow, which is completely understandable. However, as the deadline approaches, it appears the Orioles and Matusz will come to terms.
I wouldn't expect Matusz to see much time anywhere in the minors this year, but would like to see him to go the Jake Arrieta route of a year ago and pitch in the Arizona Fall League. Next season, expect him to start the year in Frederick's rotation, but he should rise quickly through the system. I don' think a call-up to Baltimore near the end of next season is out of the question if this guy has the stuff many say he does.
Keywords: Baltimore Orioles
