Earlier today, we learned Roy Oswalt would still prefer to play for the Rangers or Cardinals. Here is the latest:
- Oswalt's asking price has gradually decreased over the course of the season, but still may need to be reassessed if the right-hander wants to return the big leagues any time soon, reports CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. Oswalt may not meet his asking price of $7.5MM prorated, predicts an executive of an interested team, who says the former Astros ace should eclipse Andy Pettitte's $2.5MM contract.
- Heyman says the Phillies could be more in play for Oswalt considering Roy Halladay's shoulder issue (Twitter link). Halladay left his start today after only two innings as a precaution due to right shoulder stiffness.
- Peter Gammons of the MLB Network tweets Oswalt's agent is telling teams his client worked out for the Dodgers on Friday. This morning, Heyman reported via Twitter that the Dodgers inquired about Oswalt at one point, but don't appear involved now.
- Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the possibility of Oswalt returning in June is diminishing. According to Rosenthal, Major League executives say it's his asking price. One source tells Rosenthal Oswalt wants a pro-rated $7.5MM in base salary. Another said that Oswalt’s desired salary is a moving target, “but always high.”
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Twitter) says the Brewers checked in on Oswalt but apparently he wanted more money than they have in budget for half a season.
3-4 years ago you’d have 3 or 4 teams in a bidding war for Oswalt. But now with so many contracts gone bad, and the realisation that money won’t give you any guarantees, clubs will be more and more picky with who they give out contracts to.
In addition, I believe there is a fear that even though the economy is recovering, the attendance may be going down long term, and ticket prices can’t be raised anymore, rather the tickets may have to come down some in some instances.
I would laugh if after all this hype he doesn’t even come back. He’s not as good as he thinks he is.
Yes he is. When he’s healthy he’s as good as ANY #2-#3 in the game. 7-1 with a Sub 2 ERA down the stretch as recently as 2010.
Oswalt by each passing day is becoming more and more a prima donna. Makes me wonder if he is a cousin to Favre with the way he thinks he is so needed when teams have guys on the farm with an arm comparable to his. Basically saying only 2 teams as well is another sign he thinks he is still in his prime and forgetting this is the deep twilight of his career. He should be happy that teams are even looking at him. One last bit, if he is asking for 7.5 mil for half a season I can say a full season at that price at this stage of his career is a severe over pay.
Haven’t you heard? He’s been hanging out with favre in mississippi all spring and summer!
Pretty sure I saw that he wanted to pitch close to his Mississippi home.. Wonder if he was a good geography student.
Kind of thinking that also after working out for the LAD. He must consider California Mississippi West now 😉
Oswalt wants 8 mil. Compare that to Vlad Guerrero, who’s made over 100 mil in his career.
He goes on and signs for 1.3 mil, with 800 K guaranteed with the Blue Jays.
It’s obvious that Guerrero is in it to win it, and to some extent get that 500 homer margin.
Vlad does it for the love of the game quite frankly.
If Oswalt does in fact returns, his performance will be compared to Guerrero’s.
If Oswalt’s getting anywhere close to 8 mil, he’s gonna have to be one helluva pitcher to deliver the same type of value on the dollar that Guerrero could.
I am not sure I agree with you that they will compared to each other because one is an old hitter and one is an old pitcher. Neither has many miles left though
Well a better comparison might be Pettite who came back from 2.5 million and might be putting up better numbers than Oswalt will.
Pettitte also missed 2011 and didn’t have any other suitors. The best comparison is probably Pedro but Oswalt’s certainly going to get more than what he got.
Pettitte made it pretty clear that he only wanted to pitch for the Yankees. There was no comeback to enter FA.
That said, before The Trade, the Yanks offered him 12 million. So yeah.
If Halladay is hurt, I’d hope they’d sign Oswalt. Dave Bush and Tyler Cloyd have been pitching well all season for the Iron Pigs (Cloyd outstanding) but they’re no Roy Halladay.
His sore shoulder pretty much explains why he’s been un Doc-like this year. According to Dubee it’s been an issue for a while.
Nothing more than Roydinary.
8 million is steep.
But, with supply and demand down the stretch-
I can see the appeal of overpaying financially, rather than giving up a package of prospects.
Especially for a big market ballclub.
That being said, he’s an injury risk and I don’t necessarily feel like he could go up against the #3 starter on most playoff bound teams.
If it’s a luxurious move for depth, it’s great.
If it’s out of necessity, I don’t see it working out.
Top Ten Teams Oswalt should consider and reasons why:
1.)McComb Soul Travelers: They are in his home state in Mississippi and since Oswalt is doing all this “Soul Searching” with his free time why not play for the Soul.
2.) Laurel Black Cats: They too are in Mississippi and Oswalt wants to avoid signing with the Cubs, so he will sign with the Black Cats to avoid the Cubs.
3.) KC Royals, I mean why not they are an improving ball club, maybe Glass will cough up the dough.
4.) Columbia College Fighting Koalas: Not sure if College will have him, but the Koalas match his personality.
5.) UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs: Again not sure if college will have him, but again it matches his personality
6.) Chattanooga Central Purple Pounders: Oswalt could coach High School while waiting for that “Big Contract.”
7.) Amherst College Lord Jeffs: Oswalt thinks he’s “Royalty.”
8.) The Watersmeet Nimrods: Would be perfect for Oswalt!
9.) Nippon Ham Fighters: reciprocity with the Rangers for signing Darvish
10.) Great Lakes Loons: Oswalt is a Loon, he would fit right in!
Oswalt is an awesome pitcher, easily top 25 when healthy. If the Brewers get a couple games within the cards, I could see them paying for him. I could also see the Cards paying for him too…it’ll be interesting.
I don’t see the Cards signing him for anything other than for the bullpen. The rotation is is doing well even without Carpenter and I don’t think any of them should be relegated to the bullpen as long as Carp is still out. Lynn would be the most likely candidate, but he has been putting up great numbers so far that are probably better than what Oswalt could provide every fifth day.
Even if one of the current starting rotation goes down, Shelby Miller is close to being ready. He has regressed a bit as of late, but would probably make a satisfactory fifth starter for the big club if need be. Though if injury does force the Cards’ hand, Oswalt may be a slightly better move just so Miller can have a full season in Memphis and get ready to be in the rotation in 2013.
With that being said, the bullpen could really use some help as it has been, in my opinion, the weakest link for the Cards. If they were to sign Oswalt for $3-4M to come out of the pen as a long reliever/spot starter, I would be all for it. Something has to be done about the pen. Whether Oswalt would be willing to do that is another story.