O's wanna move Ayala

[LookitsPuck]

Should be able to get a slightly less haul than the Koji deal. Good thing Luis has going for him is salary.

The Orioles would be nuts just to dump him for salary relief or a roster spot. It'd have to be a worthwhile trade.

[bdlj0887]

3.64 k/bb, 2.64 ERA, 1.7 WAR for a middle reliever isn't great?

The 44% IS% is what's problematic with Ayala, he pretty much needs a clean inning, which severely limits his value as a reliever.

[LookitsPuck]

You can throw the stats at me if you want. He's behind Johnson, Matusz, O'Day, Strop, Patton, and probably Hunter in the pecking order in the O's bullpen. He's a solid reliever who had a good year.

O'Day had a great year.

But he's not a guy that you just ditch for a salary dump. We aren't the Ravens. We don't need to save a million dollars. If it's strictly a roster spot situation, you make a trade...but only if it's smart. We should be able to get a Chris Davis type (prior to his 2011-2012 seasons).

[MurphDogg]

He's behind Johnson, Matusz, O'Day, Strop, Patton, and probably Hunter in the pecking order in the O's bullpen.

I don't know how to find stats on this, but my guess is he comes into games in higher leverage situations than both Matusz and Hunter.

[sfosfan]

Dan Connolly ‏@danconnollysun 8s

Source said Os seem more motivated to deal Ayala, 35, than Tommy Hunter, 26. TJ McFarand, Rule 5 from Cleve, would then fit in pen.

I did not know Ayala was 35. This makes perfect sense. This last week before opening day should be very interesting.

[bdlj0887]

I don't know how to find stats on this, but my guess is he comes into games in higher leverage situations than both Matusz and Hunter.

More than Hunter, but about the same as Matusz. Matusz was way more effective though, not letting a single inherited runner score.

[MurphDogg]

He certainly didn't come into higher leverage situations than Matusz last September. I don't need to look that one up.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=matusbr01&t=p&year=2012

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=ayalalu01&t=p&year=2012

Looks about the same to me, Matusz pitched in more games overall but Ayala pitched in the same number of 1.5 leverage situations.

[Norfolk orioles]

I don't understand the bright idea of messing with the chemistry of a team simply to pick up a guy who will likely never contribute and clearing a space for a guy we aren't certain what we will get from him.

Ayala was one of the most like able guys in the bullpen last year, he was always keeping everyone loose. Pretty sure he initiated the all for one toss your hands in the middle and then lift them into the air schtick.

Why get rid of a solid middle reliever who is an even better clubhouse guy for next to nothing? I just don't get it.

[Loophole]

The 44% IS% is what's problematic with Ayala, he pretty much needs a clean inning, which severely limits his value as a reliever.

He wasn't any better with inherited runners in NY, but we still signed him. Some GMs don't care.

[wildcard]

I want to see what McFarland does against major league hitters today. That could change the equation.

I am concerned about injuries. The pitching staff is pretty healthy right now. But that is not likely to stay that way.

[bird watcher]

We do have a good reason to do it. It looks like Matusz is in the bullpen. That relegates Hunter as the long man where his true talent (1 or 2 innings at 95+) is wasted. We have no long man. It also means no place for McFarland and he goes back to Cleveleand. Trade Ayala and Hunter becomes a setup guy and you keep McFarland as the long man. Whatever you get back is icing on the cake.

Can't Patton and Matusz share long man duties?

[kyleott]

I don't understand the bright idea of messing with the chemistry of a team simply to pick up a guy who will likely never contribute and clearing a space for a guy we aren't certain what we will get from him.

Ayala was one of the most like able guys in the bullpen last year, he was always keeping everyone loose. Pretty sure he initiated the all for one toss your hands in the middle and then lift them into the air schtick.

Why get rid of a solid middle reliever who is an even better clubhouse guy for next to nothing? I just don't get it.

I was thinking this originally, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt that Ayala was the Reynolds of the bullpen. He provides value when he plays, and is a nice clubhouse piece; but, is he really the best we can do at the position?

[MurphDogg]

I was thinking this originally, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt that Ayala was the Reynolds of the bullpen. He provides value when he plays, and is a nice clubhouse piece; but, is he really the best we can do at the position?

Ayala had a 1.7 WAR last year per Baseball-Reference. 27 relievers in all of MLB were better (including O'Day, Strop, Johnson and Patton). This is not a Reynolds situation, the Orioles just had 5 of the top 34 relievers in baseball per WAR.

[OsLuvrInKy]

I don't understand the bright idea of messing with the chemistry of a team simply to pick up a guy who will likely never contribute and clearing a space for a guy we aren't certain what we will get from him.

Ayala was one of the most like able guys in the bullpen last year, he was always keeping everyone loose. Pretty sure he initiated the all for one toss your hands in the middle and then lift them into the air schtick.

Why get rid of a solid middle reliever who is an even better clubhouse guy for next to nothing? I just don't get it.

I have to trust that Dan, Buck and their staffs know better than we do. If Buck is for it then so am I.

[weams]

This is a big outing today. I wonder if DD has a trade lined up with the caveat being TJ has to pitch well today.

I'd be fine with trading Ayala, but I'd be more comfortable replacing him with someone more reliable/established than TJ, though I realize TJ wouldn't be in Ayala's role. I've always thought Ayala was a bit of a ticking time bomb, but if he starts an inning, he's usually fine.

And many times, he is good for two.