Brian Matusz: "I'm just excited to have a role here with the Orioles"

SARASOTA, Fla. - As more players are peeled off the camp roster, left-hander Brian Matusz remains in the clubhouse and the bullpen. Still an Oriole, still a reliever.

Matusz, 28, has been the subject of trade rumors and speculation. Scouts have been tracking his appearances all spring, and the Orioles seemed to be showcasing him in two starts. Or maybe they were just letting him work on his changeup. You decide.

The Mets were interested, but they acquired two left-handed relievers on Monday and bowed out. Other teams have been linked to him at various points.

"I wouldn't say it was distracting," Matusz said. "It definitely left some questions in the air and I wasn't sure for a while exactly what was going to happen. Still don't know what's going to happen. But right now I'm excited about being an Oriole, I'm excited about getting the season started and to be part of the best bullpen in all of baseball."

If it stays that way. There's still a chance that the Orioles could deal Matusz. Losing Logan Verrett to the Rangers yesterday didn't leave the Orioles with only seven relievers for opening day. They still have too many, especially if Kevin Gausman is moved to the bullpen.

"I'm just excited to get this thing going here, to start the season," Matusz said. "I think we've all worked pretty hard this spring to get ready for the season and it's exciting that it's just right around the corner here, a couple days away. We're just ready to make that next step.

"In terms of the other stuff, I mean, I don't really know what to say. I'm just excited to have a role here with the Orioles, to be here with all the guys. I'm excited for our team, I'm excited for what we have going. I think we've got a good thing going here and it's going to be a fun year."

To his credit, Matusz is putting a positive spin on his situation. He wants to be a starter and would welcome that opportunity in any organization, though his preference is to remain with the Orioles, who made him the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft.

"There's no secret there. There's no secret," Matusz said. "I think everybody knows being a starter is definitely a goal of mine and something I'd like to do, but all that stuff is really out of my control. It really is. I have no say, nothing.

"Basically, all I can do is go out and pitch and perform when the ball's given to me. That's really all I can do. Everything else is just out of my hands. I could say what I want and do all this stuff, but really when it comes down to it, all I can control is what happens out there on the mound. Play and prepare all week, work out with Brady (Anderson), do our stuff, try to get stronger and try to get better every day with Dave (Wallace) and Dom (Chiti), and that's really all I control. Everything else out there is just..."

Matusz's value continues to rise after posting a 1.88 ERA, walking none and striking out 12 in 14 1/3 innings this spring. He's set to earn $3.2 million this season and has another year of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent.

"So far, everything that's been out there in the media has been rumors," he said. "Nothing has been true of it and it's all been rumors, so in my eyes I've stopped listening to it, I've stopped reading it. Really, none of it's been true, so for me it's just focusing on becoming a better teammate, a better player and doing what I can to help us win."

As for tonight's game, the Orioles are sending Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound against the Braves, who counter with Shelby Miller. This is Jimenez's first home start in seven spring outings and it airs on MASN at 6:05 p.m.

Jimenez, who could be placed in the bullpen to start the season until the Orioles need a fifth starter, has walked two batters in his last four appearances, covering 19 innings.