Baltimore Orioles: Mat Latos Rumors and Analysis
August 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Mat Latos (55) reacts to umpires after being charged with a balk in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles have been linked among a handful of teams as having potential interest in pitcher Mat Latos.
Just a couple of years ago Latos was among the young up-and-coming pitchers in the game. But some injury issues in particular have knocked him off the rails the past two seasons.
It is presumed that Latos would be interested in a one-year deal that could serve to position him for a longer contract after 2016. He is only age 28 and is 6-6, 245. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes — the most-quoted source of probable contract values — slated Latos as getting a single year for $12 million, as a cheaper option compared to the mid-level starters like Kazmir and Chen who are seeking multiple-year contracts.
Linking Latos to the Orioles were a series of tweets by ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick…
Mat Latos coming off a rough year, but he's getting lots of calls from teams who view him as a potential turnaround candidate.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 22, 2015
#Pirates, #Royals, #Orioles, #Brewers, #Rays have checked in on Latos, who is probably looking at 1-year deal to re-establish value.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 22, 2015
One MLB source says Latos is "right up Dan Duquette's alley.'' Makeup has been a question. But still has upside at age 28.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 22, 2015
The reference to “questions about his makeup” involve how he was an immature and volatile personality when coming out of high school, and an arrogant player as a young professional around veterans. He has mellowed considerably, as injury will do that, but he is a fiery personality and competitor along with being a mega-tattooed free spirit.
Between the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Latos had bone chips removed from his elbow and cartilage repair surgery to his knee. The knee set him back during spring training, and it was the middle of June before he made his seasonal debut with the Reds. Even so, he was 5-5 in 16 starts with a 3.25 ERA.
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The 2015 season was not a good one overall. He began with the Marlins, still struggling with the knee problem. He was a deadline pickup by the Dodgers, where he struggled through six starts before being released and finishing the stretch run of the season with the Angels. His 2015 total had him with an ERA of 4.95, though more advanced metrics paint that in a bit better light.
Whereas all of that does not sound encouraging, consider his numbers before the injuries piled up. From 2010-2014 with the Padres and Reds, over 143 games he was 56-40 in 900 innings with a 3.27 ERA and WHIP of 1.161. That is outstanding stuff for a starter.
Next: Why not consider Cliff Lee?
It really is a coin toss as to how to feel about this. Would he fit in the clubhouse? What is the current condition of his knee, which seems to be the bigger issue? How will his skills translate to the American League (9-4, 3.93 ERA in 130 innings)? There are so few certainties when it comes to roster building.