Dah-Dee
March-30th-2005, 03:30 PM
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Baltimore Orioles finally gave up on pitcher Matt Riley, trading the left-hander to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday for outfielder Ramon Nivar.
Riley made his debut with Baltimore in 1999, two years after being drafted in the third round. After appearing in three games in '99, he didn't suit up for the Orioles again until 2003.
He went 3-4 last season and is 4-4 lifetime with a 5.40 ERA in 19 games.
The list of Riley's misdeeds is far more extensive than his accomplishments. He's been late for practice, ignored his coaches, and in 2000 was arrested for participating in a bar fight. As recently as last July, he betrayed the trust of the team by driving home to Baltimore after being sent to Philadelphia early to rest up for a starting assignment.
"I just wasn't consistent. There were injuries, some problems off the field, discipline problems," Riley said. "I'm disappointed, but I'm also excited about a new start. I've got a lot of great friends here, but there comes a time when you have to move on and take another step somewhere else."
Riley was penciled into the No. 5 spot in Baltimore's rotation when camp got underway, but had an 11.57 ERA in five games and fell behind Rick Bauer and Bruce Chen in the competition for the fifth slot.
Riley was out of options, and the Orioles figured they would lose him if they dropped him from the 25-man roster. Instead, they traded him to Texas.
"This is a cutthroat time. Either I've got to be here for good or it's time to let me go," Riley said. "At least the Orioles were loyal enough to send me someplace where I'm going to play. I'm not surprised. I'd be lying if I said I don't read around, listen for things. So I kind of knew something was going on with Texas."
Nivar played 19 games for Texas in 2003. He was one of two rookies to make the Rangers' opening day roster last year, but was sent to the minors on April 23 after going 4-for-18 in seven games.
He was placed on the Orioles' 40-man roster and will join the team on Thursday in Oklahoma City, where Baltimore will face the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game.
Nivar will likely start the season with Triple-A Ottawa.
In a separate deal, the Orioles sent minor league catcher Keith McDonald to the Rangers for future considerations.
Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2026174
Riley made his debut with Baltimore in 1999, two years after being drafted in the third round. After appearing in three games in '99, he didn't suit up for the Orioles again until 2003.
He went 3-4 last season and is 4-4 lifetime with a 5.40 ERA in 19 games.
The list of Riley's misdeeds is far more extensive than his accomplishments. He's been late for practice, ignored his coaches, and in 2000 was arrested for participating in a bar fight. As recently as last July, he betrayed the trust of the team by driving home to Baltimore after being sent to Philadelphia early to rest up for a starting assignment.
"I just wasn't consistent. There were injuries, some problems off the field, discipline problems," Riley said. "I'm disappointed, but I'm also excited about a new start. I've got a lot of great friends here, but there comes a time when you have to move on and take another step somewhere else."
Riley was penciled into the No. 5 spot in Baltimore's rotation when camp got underway, but had an 11.57 ERA in five games and fell behind Rick Bauer and Bruce Chen in the competition for the fifth slot.
Riley was out of options, and the Orioles figured they would lose him if they dropped him from the 25-man roster. Instead, they traded him to Texas.
"This is a cutthroat time. Either I've got to be here for good or it's time to let me go," Riley said. "At least the Orioles were loyal enough to send me someplace where I'm going to play. I'm not surprised. I'd be lying if I said I don't read around, listen for things. So I kind of knew something was going on with Texas."
Nivar played 19 games for Texas in 2003. He was one of two rookies to make the Rangers' opening day roster last year, but was sent to the minors on April 23 after going 4-for-18 in seven games.
He was placed on the Orioles' 40-man roster and will join the team on Thursday in Oklahoma City, where Baltimore will face the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game.
Nivar will likely start the season with Triple-A Ottawa.
In a separate deal, the Orioles sent minor league catcher Keith McDonald to the Rangers for future considerations.
Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2026174