196 replies to this topic

[Montana Fan]

I don't know Dog. Healthy he might give the Sox a full season of Saberhagen type pitching. 1 yr, 5 mil. If he does well they can give him Dice-K's money next year.

[Rasputin]

Need Schmeed. I want this guy in a Red Sox uniform less and less with each passing minute.

The alternative is guys like Alfredo Aceves and Carlos Silva.

[geoduck no quahog]

Seriously.

I'd happily live in a cardboard box under the subway tracks at Yankee Stadium to get $5M in six months.

What would you live in for $7M?

No one wants to give up millions of dollars no matter how much they make, and for Oswalt - it's not only this year but next year. Pitching in the NL probably increases his future value considerably over pitching in the AL East.

And money aside, if the guy wants to be closer to his family - how can we begrudge him that? Baseball players are employees, not fans. If I were in his shoes I'd be doing the exact same thing. His only problem is not being able to stop the gossip that implies he doesn't want to pitch in Boston (or any other city), becasue he might end up there and it's lousy public relations - which will disappear as an issue if he pitches well.

[bosockboy]

Yeah but its not just family...he also wants to go back to the Phils....nowhere near his family. And I know we've been over this ad nauseum (think Brian Giles)....but its 6-7 months of living out of a suitcase. On a one year deal location shouldn't matter that much.

[Sausage in Section 17]

If we're to believe these reports, he's content with the money, and after last year the last thing this club would appear to need is another guy who's focus is on the minutiae of his comfort.

I guess it's hard for me to get what the difference for his family is really going to be over the course of one summer. It's not like he's pulling up stakes to go wherever he ends up, as he's got the same problem next year.

It'll be curious to see what he gets if he doesn't take the Sox offer.

[rembrat]

I still say he sits and waits until there is an injury to the Cards or Rangers rotation. If he truly cares about pitching close to home then he isn't looking at 2012 as a year to cash in on his next contract. Most likely, he'll leave money on the table next offseason to pitch closer to home. This isn't an Edwin Jackson/Adrian Beltre scenario.

[Savin Hillbilly]

To be fair to Oswalt, it sounds from everything we've been reading as if the Cardinals haven't quite shut the door yet. If he'd prefer to pitch in St. Louis, it makes perfect sense for him to wait that situation out, especially since it doesn't look like there's much chance of the Boston opportunity disappearing any time soon. We shouldn't assume just because he'd rather pitch in St. Louis that he's adamant about not pitching here, or that he'd be a clubhouse problem if he did end up here.

[Sprowl]

To be fair to Oswalt, it sounds from everything we've been reading as if the Cardinals haven't quite shut the door yet. If he'd prefer to pitch in St. Louis, it makes perfect sense for him to wait that situation out, especially since it doesn't look like there's much chance of the Boston opportunity disappearing any time soon. We shouldn't assume just because he'd rather pitch in St. Louis that he's adamant about not pitching here, or that he'd be a clubhouse problem if he did end up here.

I agree that there is no harm in the Red Sox letting Oswalt use Boston as bargaining leverage with St. Louis. Keeping a decent offer in play for Oswalt is one of the flexibilities accorded from taking Scutaro off the payroll, and I still think that Oswalt's 2012 ceiling is as high as any pitcher not named Darvish. It's not Boston's fault that it doesn't offer Life on the Mississippi.

[Plympton91]

I agree that there is no harm in the Red Sox letting Oswalt use Boston as bargaining leverage with St. Louis. Keeping a decent offer in play for Oswalt is one of the flexibilities accorded from taking Scutaro off the payroll, and I still think that Oswalt's 2012 ceiling is as high as any pitcher not named Darvish. It's not Boston's fault that it doesn't offer Life on the Mississippi.

The other thing Oswalt could wait out is the open tryouts for Boston's 5th starter role. Despite my cautious optimism, it could be that by St. Patrick's Day everyone competing for the job has an ERA of 9 and hasn't made it out of the third inning. Boston's offer might increase at that point.

[86spike]

Or, as has been speculated, he's waiting to see how much Ortiz gets hopeful that it will be the lower number and that will give Boston more to offer him.

[EvilEmpire]

The other thing Oswalt could wait out is the open tryouts for Boston's 5th starter role. Despite my cautious optimism, it could be that by St. Patrick's Day everyone competing for the job has an ERA of 9 and hasn't made it out of the third inning. Boston's offer might increase at that point.

Not only Boston, but probably a few teams that aren't quite solid with their 5th starters.

[mr_smith02]

Not only Boston, but probably a few teams that aren't quite solid with their 5th starters.

Any chance the MFYs take a run at Oswalt once they get rid of Burnett?

[TeddyLepcio]

Any chance the MFYs take a run at Oswalt once they get rid of Burnett?

Never know what the Yankees are going to do, but most reports indicate they will use the money for a
hitter or maybe 2 hitters.






edit for typo

Edited by TeddyLepcio, 17 February 2012 - 11:33 AM.

[Green Monster]

Who needs Oswalt when you can have Ross Ohlendorf??

[Yaz4Ever]

Any chance he'll come to us, hat in hand, soon and beg us to take him for 1 year and $5M now that no one else seems interested in him?

[Trlicek's Whip]

Any chance he'll come to us, hat in hand, soon and beg us to take him for 1 year and $5M now that no one else seems interested in him?

He can slow-play his hand and wait for the inevitable spring training injuries starters and/or surprise cuts from camps he's more keen on (STL etc). Or a team who has a sudden need and a bit more money to allocate.

Even if he has to wait for SoSH's Annual TJ Surgery Pool to reach closure, he can stay in shape and dive into the season past April.

[EvilEmpire]

Any chance the MFYs take a run at Oswalt once they get rid of Burnett?

I seriously doubt it. They already have Garcia, Hughes and Nova for the 4th and 5th starter slots and are probably pretty comfortable with it. If someone goes down to injury before he signs somewhere, sure, they'd be interested. But I don't know why Oswalt would want to go to NY if he doesn't want to play in Boston.

[bosockboy]

Been almost a week here....Rangers and Cardinals have seemed to move on. Waiting on an injury?

[Rasputin]

I have a hard time believing this goes more than a couple weeks into spring training. I guess that means we need to hope for health from all the teams he wants to go to.

[bosockboy]

Bowden:

Oswalt could make decision by tomorrow on his next team according to a source..should be a busy rest of the week w/ Braun, expanded playoffs

https://twitter.com/#!/JimBowdenESPNxm/status/172471345618239488

[Seels]

Yep, he could make a decision tomorrow. He could have also made it last week. Or last month.

What a stupid report.

[SoxScout]

What a stupid report.

Agent: Roy Oswalt announcement coming

By Gordon Edes
Bob Garber, the agent for pitcher Roy Oswalt, said Oswalt will make an announcement Thursday, but would not disclose the nature of the news. Boston Red Sox sources said they did not know what Oswalt was planning to do, although one source said they still have interest in him.

[Corsi]

it is NOT rangers or red sox for oswalt, at least not now, according to people who know.

https://twitter.com/#!/JonHeymanCBS/status/172683706778140672

[Yaz4Ever]

So, it's the Cardinals? Or is there a mystery team?

[SoxScout]

So, it's the Cardinals? Or is there a mystery team?

Or he isn't pitching to start the season.

[Savin Hillbilly]

He's announcing that he will hold his breath and turn blue until the Cardinals offer him a rotation slot.

Edited by Savin Hillbilly, 23 February 2012 - 11:22 AM.

[Corsi]

McAdam:

As Roy Oswalt nears decision, baseball source says "nothing new" with #RedSox.

https://twitter.com/#!/Sean_McAdam/status/172710112862011393

[Corsi]

Mo' insists Roy O "will not be pitching for the Cardinals."

https://twitter.com/#!/JoeStrauss/status/172707809509654528

Mo = Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak

[Yaz4Ever]

It's the Newark Bears

[RedOctober3829]

"After careful consideration, I have decided to take my talents to my ranch in Texas."

[mr_smith02]

Boston Red Sox Buzz (@redsoxbuzztap)
2/23/12 11:55 AM
Boston Injection >> Roy Oswalt Will Not Be Joining the Red Sox buzztap.com/-x1UwpI

LOCK THE THREAD AND LET'S MOVE ON.

Edited by mr_smith02, 23 February 2012 - 12:06 PM.

[Otis Foster]

The last thing this team needs is someone who really doesn't want to be here. Imagine how he'll react once CHB starts with his trademarked snark.

[86spike]

it's probably taking so long because Oswalt needs time to build up the courage to commit to working in Baltimore all summer.

[RedOctober3829]

Free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt has told #MLB clubs that he may join a team midseason: http://es.pn/zFYeZD

[cannonball 1729]

Well, I'm sure that will prove to teams that he's healthy enough for a multi-year deal.

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

"Brilliant plan, Roy. Don't you dare settle. They'll come around sooner or later."

- Jermaine Dye.

[PedroSpecialK]

Jesus I don't think I've ever disliked a free agent who's never played for the Sox, Yankees, or Rays this much.

[86spike]

He's waiting for one of his preferred teams to suffer a spring training injury.

[Savin Hillbilly]

The MLBTR piece on this notes that

Roger Clemens, a former teammate of Oswalt's, sat out the beginning of the season in 2006 and 2007 before signing midseason and Pedro Martinez had a similar approach to the 2009 campaign.

....leaving it up to the reader to note that those were also the last seasons Clemens and Martinez ever pitched.

[luckysox]

I'm happy to NOT have a guy who clearly does not want to pitch here. I think it would have been ugly with his attitude and the Boston press. He'll be in St. Louis by May when Kyle Lohse comes roaring back to earth.

[HriniakPosterChild]

....leaving it up to the reader to note that those were also the last seasons Clemens and Martinez ever pitched.

No love for Paul Byrd?

[Mourning Woodward Jr]

In other words, Suzyn gets several months to rehearse her encore. With any luck, it will be on the 5-year anniversary of her finest hour, and they can prepare a Dentist-worthy dog and pony show at the New Toilet.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

And here is Suzyn enjoying every minute of it

[Laser Show]

Roy Oswalt is open to playing anywhere now apparently.

[OCD SS]

Roy Oswalt is open to playing anywhere now apparently.

... at midseason, after his kids have finished school and a move would be easier on the family.

[bschase2]

Ugh. This guy is worse than most the girls I dated. He never knows what he wants, only what he doesn't want. And then, when he isn't the center of attention any more...

[JimBoSox9]

Please God lock this thread until/unless there's s report actually worth what it's printed on. I can't take this for another three months.