Matusz Signs

Word broke about an hour and a half ago that the Orioles signed Brian Matusz. He's got a $3.2 million signing bonus, but the real perk is that it is a Major League contract. That does not mean he has to appear in the majors anytime soon, but it does mean he is a member of Baltimore's 40-man roster, among other things that make a major league deal much more desirable than a minor league one.

I don't think this contract changes negotiations for other unsigned draft picks all that much. It probably gives Buster Posey even more leverage to get a major league contract, and at this point I will be quite surprised if he does not get one. The Matusz deal also further asserts that Alonso and Crow are both asking for way too much, which pressures both of them to lower their demands.