O's trade former prospect Riley
Lefty pitcher sent to Rangers for outfielder Nivar
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
Matt Riley posted a 5.63 ERA in 14 Major League appearances last year. (Elsa/Getty Images)
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Orioles finally decided to part ways with once-promising left-hander Matt Riley on Wednesday, sending the former prospect to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Ramon Nivar.
Riley, 25, lost out on the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, and the Orioles had little recourse but to trade him because he was out of minor league options. When it was apparent Riley was not going to make the club, the Orioles began shopping him and found a taker in the Rangers, who are thin on pitching.
The final rotation spot was Riley's to lose and he did little to earn the job. He was 0-0 with an 11.57 ERA in five games and had been relegated to pitching in relief or minor league games the past few weeks.
"I'm not surprised," Riley said minutes after the trade was announced. "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. The main thing is that they are going to give me a shot over there, and that's all I can ask for."
Riley was a third-round draft pick in 1997 out of Liberty (Calif.) High School and never panned out after being tabbed a can't-miss prospect. He made his Major League debut at age 20 Sept. 9, 1999, the youngest Orioles pitcher to debut in 32 years.
After making three appearances in 1999, he reported to Spring Training in 2000 with an attitude that angered many of his veteran teammates. The left-hander was also arrested for disorderly conduct at a Fort Lauderdale club during that spring.
Riley struggled with Double-A Bowie that season before he was diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament and required Tommy John surgery. Riley missed the 2001 season and returned to Bowie in 2002 to improve his arm strength.
He split the 2003 season between Bowie and Triple-A Ottawa and finally returned to the Major Leagues in Sept. 2003 and earned his first Major League win on Sept. 14 at Toronto.
Riley was named the fourth starter out of Spring Training last season, but floundered in that role. After a two-week stint on the disabled list in May, Riley was sent to Triple-A Ottawa, but he was given another chance to start in a July 3 game at Philadelphia.
Riley upset the organization by driving to Baltimore to hang out with friends a night before the game, and he didn't show up to Citizens Bank Park until 4:30 p.m. ET for a 7 p.m. game. He proceeded to allow five runs in one-plus innings and was banished to Ottawa until September.
He returned to the big club in September and went 2-1 with a 2.43 ERA in five games, giving the organization optimism for this season. Yet Riley let another opportunity slip away by getting off to a slow start in the spring, and he never made a serious run for the rotation.
"I just tried to work on some things this spring, try to elevate my game in a few areas and it cost me early," Riley said. "When I wasn't starting anymore, they were kind of letting me know they were headed in another direction. And I guess they felt like I didn't quite fit into the plan and I felt like I had a better opportunity to shine somewhere else."
Riley will be tutored by Rangers pitching coach Orel Hershiser. He will compete with Pedro Astacio and Ricardo Rodriguez for a slot in the rotation.
"I am excited about [Hershiser]," Riley said. "I was a Giants fan growing up, and being able to watch him with the Dodgers and watch the way he pitched, I'm sure he has plenty of knowledge to help make me a better pitcher."
Nivas likely will start the season in Ottawa. He will join the team in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Coincidentally, he played for Triple-A Oklahoma last season.
Nivar hit .264 for the RedHawks with 10 homers and 52 RBIs. He was once considered a top prospect because of his speed, but scouts said he lacks baseball instincts. He was caught stealing 15 times in 30 attempts last season.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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