Baltimore Orioles just cannot quit Matt Harvey
Insanity, as defined in Rita Mae Brown’s novel ‘Sudden Death,’ is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. For the Baltimore Orioles, the definition of insanity may well be Matt Harvey.
It made sense for the Orioles to give Harvey a chance in 2021. The team was clearly not going anywhere, and if Harvey could be even remotely competent, he could have brought back some pieces for the future. However, the idea that Harvey could be competent these days is laughable, as were his results last season.
Baltimore Orioles giving Matt Harvey another chance
And now, Harvey is back. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract worth a prorated $1 million and a $500,000 bonus if he is traded this season. Clearly, the Orioles decided to bid against themselves for his services.
It is difficult to imagine why no one was lighting up Harvey’s phone to sign him. He did shave more than five runs off of his ERA from 2020 to 2021. Of course, this meant that he posted a 6.27 ERA and a 1.543 WHiP in his 127.2 innings for Baltimore last year. Add in the fact that his fastball had dropped over three miles per hour from his peak and that his strikeout rate was one of the lowest of his career, and one cannot understand how the Orioles managed to pluck him from free agency.
Then there was his testimony in the Tyler Skaggs trial. He admitted using opioids and other drugs during his time with the Mets and afterwards, although he claims to have gotten past those issues now. With that sort of history, one can understand why the Orioles would be so excited to bring him back.
Maybe he can be a useful piece for the Orioles. Maybe he can slot into the back of their rotation, eat some innings, and be a positive influence on the roster. If that happens, the Orioles may be able to trade him for something that could help their future. And maybe octopi will rise out of the oceans to enslave humanity.
dark. Next. When will the Orioles see their top ten prospects?
The Baltimore Orioles have brought Matt Harvey back on a minor league deal. They clearly need to learn the definition of insanity.