Matos Designated For Assignment

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Hmmmm. Saw this coming.

Geez. The guy never lived up to his "promise". He spent so many parts of so many seasons on the disabled list, he never got a good rhythm going, is my thinking.

Well, let's see if anyone picks him up.

Terrero has been called up from Triple-A.

O's designate Matos for assignment
Team calls up Luis Terrero from Triple-A Ottawa
Baltimoresun.com Staff
Originally published July 6, 2006, 5:31 PM EDT

The Orioles have designated outfielder Luis Matos for assignment and purchased the contract of outfielder Luis Terrero from Triple-A Ottawa.

Matos, 27, was batting .207 (25-121) with two home runs and five RBIs in 55 games for the Orioles this season. He also missed two weeks while on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Matos, who made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2000, spent parts of the last seven seasons with Baltimore

Terrero begins his second stint with the Orioles this season. He joined the team when Matos was placed on the DL on April 19 and appeared in 11 games, going hitless in 14 at-bats. Terrero was then designated for assignment on May 13. He then cleared waivers and returned to Ottawa and has batted .321 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in 52 games.


© 2006 by The Baltimore Sun.

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Well, that's showbiz!

More on Matos.

Weary of sitting, Matos gets to walk
By Jeff Zrebiec
Sun reporter
Originally published July 7, 2006

CHICAGO // Three years ago, when he hit .303 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs and 15 stolen bases, Luis Matos was billed as the Orioles' center fielder of the future. However, the organization finally grew tired of waiting, designating the 27-year-old for assignment yesterday, a move that likely ends his injury-hampered Orioles career.

The Orioles, who purchased the contract of outfielder Luis Terrero from Triple-A Ottawa to replace Matos, now have 10 days to trade Matos, give him his outright release or pass him through waivers. Orioles vice president Jim Duquette said that even if he passed through waivers, Matos, who is making $1.625 million this season, would not likely accept a minor league assignment.

At this point, there has been no league-wide interest in Matos, the club's Opening Day center fielder this season who faced questions over the past two years about his work ethic. Used by manager Sam Perlozzo mostly against left-handed pitchers or as a late-inning defensive replacement, Matos was hitting .207 with two home runs and five RBIs. Matos hit both of those home runs in the first week of the season and had not had an RBI since June 2.

"He had discussions with Sam about his playing time and we didn't think that we were going to be able to give him much more than what he was getting," Duquette said. "We just thought it might be better if we gave him a better opportunity somewhere else."

The move was made after it was decided that rookie outfielder Nick Markakis (right calf strain) did not need to go on the 15-day disabled list as was originally thought.

"Obviously, I was real sore and it was really tough to walk yesterday, but it feels 10 times better," Markakis said. "I told them if they need me, I can play."

Terrero, who was batting .321 with 11 home runs and 25 RBIs in 52 games for Ottawa, but was 0-for-14 in his first stint with the Orioles this season, was going to come up to replace Markakis if he went on the disabled list.

The decision to designate Matos leaves Perlozzo with a bench that includes Terrero, Ed Rogers and Howie Clark, all who were either in the minors or not with the organization when the season began.

The Orioles informed Matos of their decision at the team hotel before last night's game. He couldn't be reached for comment yesterday, though third baseman Melvin Mora , one of his closest friends on the team, said that he spoke to him and Matos was dealing with the situation fine.

"He's not happy, but he's not down," Mora said. "He don't play so much here. Why would he have been down? I think it is a good move for him."

Matos was the Orioles' 10th-round selection in the 1996 first-year-player draft. He cracked the big leagues in 2000, playing 72 games for the Orioles. He missed most of the 2001 and 2002 seasons because of injuries and his 2004 campaign was also cut short by a stress fracture in his right shin. Matos hit .280 last year, which also featured a stay on the disabled list, but he had just four home runs and 32 RBIs.

"It seemed like every time he got the chance to start or started doing well, he ended up getting hurt and struggled after that," Perlozzo said. "It was no different this year. With the emergence of [Brandon] Fahey ... it made it hard for Luis."

The organization was openly displeased with Matos' conditioning, hustle and defense last season. Perlozzo spoke to the player last September and told him that he needed to come back after the offseason and work harder and have a better attitude. Perlozzo said that he was pleased with Matos' effort, but his lack of production made it hard to give him playing time.

"I think he admitted that he had a tough year last year," Perlozzo said. "I think it showed on the field last year. However, I thought he went about his business in a professional manner this spring."

It was clear that Matos had become disenchanted with his role.

"At times, he was probably not the same guy that he's always been," second baseman Brian Roberts said. "I hope he gets a chance to make a fresh start."

Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley agreed.

"At times, he looked brilliant," Crowley said. "As of recently, he wasn't happy here. He just wasn't happy here. In that case, I think a change of scenery would work well for him."



Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun

[PopTop]

That's a shame. I was thinking maybe Houston should nab him. But I also didn't realize he was making that much money :eek: Guess I shouldn't be too surprised at some salaries any longer, but that's more than Chris Burke, Eric Bruntlett, Jason Lane and Willy Taveras combined!

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Yup. He was making a ton. I think that's why I've been reading so many disgusted fans' comments about how he's seemed to be slacking this season - not caring, not giving his all.

Of course, I've seen very few games, and you know how disgruntled fans can be, so who's to say whether he's really been lazy, or whether he just looked that way to the fans who are pissed off about everything these days. :notme:

[Toy Cannon]

Yup. He was making a ton.

It's the Richard Hidalgo syndrome. Young kid comes up and has a great year, shows unimaginable promise, and a fool hearty owner bestows unheard of wealth on the young pupil thinking "in four years people with his ability will be making 10 times what I'll be paying...what a steal!" Should've waited:nono1:

I always really liked Matos, just like I always really liked Richard Hidalgo. I hope Matos' story doesn't end the same way.

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Me too, Dale. I'm hoping a change of scenery will do him good. (It's the old "change of scenery" scenario. :D )

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I'm happy for him! I hope he does well!

I didn't realize he'd been with the O's for 7 seasons! :eek:

It looks like he'll be playing every day, which has got to make him happy! :thumbsup:

Found this little blurb in the Baltimore Sun:

Nats sign Matos, demote Byrd
Myers returns to Phils, will start tomorrow
from wire reports
Originally published July 15, 2006
baseball

The Washington Nationals signed free-agent outfielder Luis Matos yesterday and assigned outfielder Marlon Byrd to Triple-A New Orleans after he cleared waivers.

The Nationals also reacquired right-hander Chris Booker - who the team gave up in the 2005 Rule 5 draft - and lost minor league outfielder Brandon Watson on waivers to the Cincinnati Reds.

Shortly before the Nationals played in Pittsburgh, they also put right-hander John Patterson on the disabled list, retroactive to Monday, with a strained right forearm. The team expects to purchase the contract of right-hander Kevin Gryboski from Triple-A New Orleans today.

Matos hit .207 in 55 games for the Orioles this season before they designated him for assignment July 6.

His career batting average is .256 with 30 home runs, 140 RBIs and 72 steals in 494 major league games spread over seven seasons with the Orioles. Washington has been searching for an everyday center fielder throughout this season, with Byrd, Watson and Ryan Church playing there.

Matos has made 373 big league starts in center field.

Byrd was designated for assignment after batting .223.

Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun