Brian Matusz Rumors

Orioles Sign Brian Matusz

FRIDAY: The Orioles reached an agreement with Matusz on a Major League deal worth $3.47MM. THURSDAY, 12:51pm: MLB.com's Spencer Fordin says the O's and Matusz inched closer to a deal, perhaps for a Major League contract worth $3.1MM. However, no agreement is confirmed. 11:16am: Roch Kubatko confirms Matusz's presence in Baltimore for a physical, but stresses that the pitcher has not signed yet. All signs point to a deal getting done though. 9:43am: According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, Orioles top draft pick Brian Matusz is expected in Baltimore today for a physical and a deal is close....   Continue Reading

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Draft Pick Signing Update: Posey, Matusz, Alonso

10:51am: Baggarly has the latest on Posey. He says it's a "spitting contest" between Scott Boras and Posey's agency to have the highest-paid draft pick. 7:46am: The latest links involved unsigned first-round draft picks. Sam Mellinger explains the decision Eric Hosmer faces. He might have to go against Scott Boras' advice. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle denies Andrew Baggarly's Buster Posey report yesterday, calling it "premature Posey-ing." Schulman talked to the Giants' director of player personnel, who said the deal is not done and the number is not $7.5MM. There is no verbal agreement, either. Schulman also heard...   Continue Reading

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Draft Roundup: Crow, Matusz, Alvarez

The deadline to sign '08 draft picks is 11pm CST on Friday. Here are the latest rumors. MLB.com's Kevin Czerwinski has a new summary of the unsigned first rounders. The Nationals and Aaron Crow are not close. It's been said Crow wants a Major League deal in the $8-10MM range. The Orioles are reluctant to give a big league deal to Brian Matusz. John Perrotto expects Pedro Alvarez to sign at the last minute. Dejan Kovacevic dismisses the notion that it would be OK for the Pirates to shrug off signing Alvarez and take next year's #3 pick. The August...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Ibanez, Dunn, Blake, Stewart

Let's kick off the morning with some random links. Live chat here today at 2pm CST. Brian Matusz is hopeful about striking a deal with the Orioles by Friday's deadline. Roch Kubatko has a source saying it's likely. Baseball America's Jim Callis warns us not to listen to the posturing - he still expects all the first-round draft picks to sign with the possible exception of Allan Dykstra. Should the Mariners offer Raul Ibanez a three-year deal at $10-11MM per? No word yet on possible Rays acquisitions in wake of the Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria injuries. Marc Lancaster wonders...   Continue Reading

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Draft Roundup: Matusz, Alonso, Hosmer

Let's round up some links concerning the unsigned '08 draft picks. The Orioles haven't made much progress with Brian Matusz, but they haven't gone backward either. His agent seems cautiously optimistic. Reds top pick Yonder Alonso told the Miami Herald there's a 50-50 chance he doesn't sign and goes back to college. One of Alonso's "advisors" said the Reds and Alonso were way off on figures. Sam Mellinger says some think Royals top pick Eric Hosmer might be willing to try college. Hosmer is advised by Scott Boras. Mellinger considers fourth round pick/first round talent Tim Melville the Royals' backup...   Continue Reading

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Draft Update: Crow, Alvarez, Matusz

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reminds us of baseball's next deadline: this year's draft picks must be signed by end of day August 15th. Mayo provides links updating progress on unsigned top ten picks Pedro Alvarez, Eric Hosmer, Yonder Alonso, and Aaron Crow. No news on Gordon Beckham. Roch Kubatko says both the Orioles and Brian Matusz remain confident a deal will be done. No hard feelings on either side regarding the delay. Based on this Q&A with Nationals GM Jim Bowden, talks with Crow apparently haven't gotten too far. As for Alvarez, the Pirates have a dollar figure they'd prefer not...   Continue Reading

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Mayo's Latest: Alvarez, Orioles, Cashner

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo has some draft tidbits tonight. The idea has been floated that the Rays could draft Pedro Alvarez with an eye on moving Evan Longoria to second base down the road. Alvarez's position really shouldn't be a concern - Carlos Pena might be gone by the time he's ready. Mayo's heard buzz that the Rays have narrowed it down to Alvarez or Buster Posey, despite what Tim Beckham's dad said. Standard speculation is that the O's are looking at Brian Matusz and Justin Smoak, but Mayo's heard there might be a non-Beckham dark horse. The White Sox have...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: 2008 Amateur Draft

With last year's top pick, David Price, making his pro debut yesterday, we are now two weeks from the 2008 "Rule 4 Draft" and the top of the draft is not as clear this time around. There are five candidates that could go in the top slot: Buster Posey, the FSU catcher; Vanderbilt's third baseman Pedro Alvarez; San Diego lefty Brian Matusz; Southern California high school catcher Kyle Skipworth, and Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham. Earlier this week we heard that the Rays were leaning towards Posey or Alvarez, while the Pirates were said to be torn between Alvarez...   Continue Reading

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Rays Could Take Catcher No. 1 Overall

In a recent blog post, ESPN's Peter Gammons told us not to be surprised if the Rays take Florida State catcher Buster Posey first overall in the June draft. Posey, a former shortstop, has the skills and frame to behind the plate in his career. Baseball America's Jim Callis recently analyzed the Rays' most likely options (print issue 0809). He doesn't see the Rays choosing Boras-represented corner infielder Pedro Alvarez. Pitchers Brian Matusz and Aaron Crow and shortstop Tim Beckham are the top talents after Alvarez. Callis, like Gammons, notes that the Rays could go for Posey if they choose...   Continue Reading

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Royals Considerations For No. 3 Pick

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star has an article discussing the Royals' third overall pick in the June draft. The Royals are giving the usual line about taking the best available player. It seems logical that the Rays could take shortstop Tim Beckham first, and then the Pirates would take corner infielder Pedro Alvarez. That'd leave pitchers Aaron Crow and Brian Matusz and first baseman Eric Hosmer as possibilities for KC. Saberscouting did a mock draft today, suggesting Crow and Hosmer as the likely candidates. Additionally, ESPN scouting guru Keith Law dropped me a line suggesting catcher Buster Posey...   Continue Reading

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