Dontrelle Willis is on the restricted list following a difference of opinion on the left-hander's role in the Orioles' minor league system. Willis left Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate over the weekend, believing he had been released when he had actually been placed on the restricted list.
"My understanding is that the Orioles people involved in telling Dontrelle he could have his release reiterated that commitment to Dan Duquette," Agent Matt Sosnick told MLBTR's Tim Dierkes. "Yet Duquette refused to honor that and instead put Dontrelle on the restricted list. We ended up reading about him being put on the restricted list in the news. It's the craziest thing. Our expectation is that Dontrelle will be removed from the restricted list today."
Willis left the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate without permission, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported today. Duquette, Baltimore's executive VP of baseball operations, confirmed to Heyman that the sides had a difference of opinion on whether Willis should start or pitch out of the bullpen. Duquette hopes Willis will return and believes he can be an effective reliever, Heyman reports.
Welcome to the Carnival of Who Cares! Fun for all!
Dontrelle …who?
Am I missing something or does this chronology make no sense?
Actually, not sure why he agreed to be a reliever. Never done it before, and pitched well as a starter last year.
Willis was 9 for 13 in Quality Starts last year.
“Dontrelle Willis to sign with the Boston Red Sox” headline coming in 3…2…1…
Not hardly.. They are still working on “project A” Andrew Miller.. Willis is an entirely new can of worms with FAR more severe issues with his delivery.
I don’t understand his thinking. Willis was told when he signed here that he was going to be tried as a reliever. It was reported widely in all media outlets that this was going to happen. Much was made of his ridiculous L/R splits from last season (.305 avg vs RHB, .127 vs LHB). Did he think that the O’s were suddenly going to change their minds?
Back to the Marlins should be a perfect fit by now!