MLB Network analysts debate the Chris Davis contract; Brian Graham talks Bundy, Harvey

When the Orioles officially re-signed slugger Chris Davis to a seven-year deal worth $161 million, many fans were excited that the club was able to retain the power-hitting first baseman. He leads the majors in homers since 2012 and was the major league homer leader in both 2013 and 2015.

But not all analysts saw the signing as a good one for the Orioles. Yesterday, the Davis contract was one topic debated on MLB Network's "MLB Now" show. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs.com was a guest.

In his ranking of the 10 worst transactions of the winter, he rated the Davis contract as second worst, behind Arizona's trade for pitcher Shelby Miller.

"When you look at history, this is the exact kind of player that has not aged well and has really turned into an albatross more often than not," Cameron said of the Davis deal. "When you look at oversized sluggers with one tool - when that tool regresses even a little bit, Chris Davis losses almost all of his value. He's the kind of guy that has really turned into a pull-hitter. The shift is going to hurt him as more teams adopt this.

"I think we're going to see a guy that is going to be a low-.200s hitter with all those strikeouts. When he is hitting 30 home runs, instead of 45 home runs, all (of) the sudden that is a marginal player. He is not necessarily going to go Ryan Howard on you, but that is in the range of possibility.

"When you are signing up $160 million, when no one else was really interested, and that is one of the possible outcomes, there is a lot of risk."

On the show yesterday, MLB Network analysts Dan O'Dowd, a former big league general manager, and former big league pitcher Dan Plesac had other thoughts.

"I don't agree," O'Dowd said. "I think you look, his walk rate is actually pretty good. His on-base percentage is pretty good. I think his power is so unique, I think he can hit the ball out to any part of any ballpark.

"I think he is going to age well. But it depends. If this signing prevents them from doing anything else, then I don't think it's a good signing. But if this (is) in context of them doing other things to improve their team, I think Davis is very unique in the skill set that he has. He does strikeout, but he does walk and hit the ball out of the ballpark."

"Without that big bat in that lineup, Adam Jones is the only other guy that really scares you," Plesac added. "I was a little shocked they went to $160 million. If you believe what you read, there wasn't a whole lot of competition out there for the Orioles. But I think if the Orioles have any chance to threaten in 2016 in the AL East, they had to keep this guy."

The network also spent a few minutes Thursday interviewing Orioles director of player development Brian Graham.

Graham said injured minor league pitchers Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey are now healthy and are looking good as spring training starts.

Bundy has been limited to 63 innings since the 2013 season, while Harvey has not pitched in a minor league game since July 2014.

"He's as good right now as I've seen him since he's been with the Orioles," Graham said of Bundy. "I think health is the major factor. He's throwing the ball well, he looks good, he's got a smile on his face and he's healthy.

"This is a different guy right now. I think that Dylan Bundy is ready to finally be healthy and be the kind of guy that we always expected."

"Hunter Harvey is an exceptional talent," Graham continued. "This guy when he is healthy, he's as good as there is. I think if he does stay healthy, which we do anticipate through all the medical reviews and the MRIs and everything he has gone through, they say he's 100 percent healthy.

"If Hunter has the ability to stay healthy and pitch the way he is capable, he has a chance to be special. I think sometimes he might be glossed over just a little bit and people don't quite realize how good he is.

"It's not just his name. This guy has fastball command and the ability to throw his breaking ball in any count. His stuff is plus. All his pitches are plus pitches and he has matured, he's growing up. He has a chance to be very good."