Orioles Spring Training Update - Ryan Howard An Oriole? Matusz A Met? Davis Back To 2013 Mode?

Feels like just yesterday we were waiting for Spring Training to get here, now everyone’s already sick of meaningless games and can’t wait for Opening Day. Nothing too new this week in Birdland, O’s bats finally coming alive (in games that don’t count), a minor Matt Wieters scare, but other than that, no new injuries. Gonna keep it short this week and just go over some potential trade talks, and why a certain slugger looks SOOOO much better this spring.

Orioles interested in Ryan Howard?

This rumor has been floating around for a while now, and I don’t get it. The Phillies have said that they would take on about $50 million of Howard’s salary in a trade, and the O’s have been mentioned as a potential suitor. The O’s are not included on Howard’s no-trade-clause list.

So that means if the O’s got him, they would only be on the hook for $5 mill a season for two seasons. People are screaming for a straight up Ubaldo-Howard trade. That won’t happen you schmucks. The Phillies are trying to dump salary, not pick up more bad contracts.

I wouldn’t hate a DH for $5 mill a year that could give the O’s 20+ bombs and 80+ RBI. On the flip side, the O’s don’t need anymore guys who strike out 150+ times, and he cant field. Who would the O’s get rid of on the roster for Howard? Pearce? Young? Chris Davis wouldn’t be happy either, that would all but seal the deal of him leaving in the offseason. More cons than pros here.

All in all, I don’t see this trade happening. Sorry Ryan, enjoy the N.L. East basement again this year, eat fresh.

Brian Matusz On The Move?

Another guy who has been in some trade rumors is lefty reliever Brian Matusz. He’s had an up-and-down career with the O’s, but found his role in the pen. Had trouble last season doing his only job, getting righties out. Righties hit .277 off Matusz, not too good. The bullpen seems to be crowded now, and the O’s brought in Wesley Wright in the offseason. Matusz has made some starts in Spring Training, could the O’s be showcasing him?

The Mets have popped up as a possible destination for Matusz. They lost a reliever and starter to injury last week and could use another arm out of the pen. He is due to make $3.2 mill this season, which isn’t a ton, but not cheap for a guy who will only appear in 60 games either. Bottom line is the O’s want a lot in return for Matusz and they won’t get it. I don’t think he gets moved, at least not to the Mets for the haul the O’s desire.

Chris Davis Looks….Good?

“BUT RDT, ITS SPRING TRAINING AND YOU SAID YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT STATS IN SPRING TRAINING!!” That is true, I don’t care about the stats. Davis’ numbers aren’t eye popping like Kris Bryant, but I LOVE what I’m seeing from him. Hitting to the opposite field. In 2013 Davis was great because of his power to the opposite field. When he was on, he was dropping bombs over left field, and right center. That’s his bread and butter. In 2013, according to Baseball Reference, 21 of his 53 (39.6%) bombs went to left field, or right center. Check out his spray chart from 2013 from Fangraphs.

Last year Davis struggled with an oblique injury, an injury that made it difficult for Davis to drive the ball to the opposite field. What were oppo dongs in 2013 were weak fly outs in 2014. Guess where all three of his homers have gone this spring? Left field and right center. 2014 spray chart is not pretty, that lingering oblique injury was the reason for the significant drop in bombs to left.

Davis is healthy this spring and it shows. Look for a big year out of Crush- as it’s the perfect storm of a contract year and he’s 100% healthy. Watch out A.L. East. He’s also 16/1 odds to lead the MLB in homers, sign me up for that.

That’s all I got this week. Be on the lookout for my 2015 Season Preview coming soon. Go O’s. Go UMD in the tourney, and if you want to check out a future Oriole playing in the tourney, watch Notre Dame, #24 Pat Connaughton. 6’5 righty pitcher in the O’s organization, STUD.