5:16pm: Jon Daniels tells T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com that "there is no truth" to the Oswalt speculation.
4:36pm: ESPN's Buster Olney hears from a highly placed source that there's nothing to the Oswalt to Texas rumors (Twitter links). He adds the it doesn't make sense for them to pursue the highest paid starting pitcher on the market not just given their financial situation, but also when the market is flush with starters.
4:01pm: A source tells NBCSports.com's Craig Calcattera that the Astros and Rangers are "getting close" to having a Roy Oswalt deal in place. It's not clear who Houston would receive in the deal, but the package of players is more or less agreed too.
However, Texas' financial situation is the sticking point, as the Rangers are trying to convince MLB to allow them to take on the roughly $27MM left on Oswalt's deal. MLB currently has a line of credit to cover expenses out to the Rangers, who are in bankruptcy. As Calcattera explains, it's unclear if the bankruptcy court must approve any new obligations.
The 32-year-old Oswalt has indicated that he will waive his no-trade clause to go to a contender, and the Rangers are currently a half-game up in the AL West. He's posted a 3.16 ERA with 8.6 K/9 this year, his highest mark since his rookie season. The $27MM left on his deal is broken down into $9M for the remainder of this season, $16M next year, and a $2MM buyout of his $16MM option for 2012.
The Rangers' team ERA is middle of the pack at 4.12, but their starters have thrown just 362.1 innings, among the lowest in the league. Oswalt has fired off six straight years of at least 30 starts and 181.1 innings, so he'd fit comfortably at the top of their rotation.
I’m willing to bet that this does not take place.
He’s not damaged like Lowell was:) Let’s have a little optimism Red Sox fan. I’m a Yank fan and I’d be all for a trade like this, even if it means a run for our money with the Wild Card if the Rays hold up. Something like this is good for baseball. A front end guy potentially going to a “smaller” market team and maybe being able to take them to spot of being a true contender.
I was more thinking that with the whole bankruptcy thing and the Astros wanting salary relief. Doesn’t seem like it would be a good match up in that regards.
Fair enough. The financial aspects of a trade like this are sure to be an issue.
I’m more so intrigued by the prospects that Houston would be receiving in a deal like this.
Indeed. I have zero idea about the Rangers farm system at the moment. You have to wonder which way this goes. Better return and more money absorbed by the Astros or do the Rangers get MLB approval to take on the majority of that salary and fork over a couple a B level arms. Its tough to speculate the outcome of this one. Keep in mind, its not like the Astros are hard up for cash, this is not a straight salary dump.
I don’t see this changes the wild card situation since Texas is already in first and with Oswalt will probably stay there. If anything it might just give the Angels and Athletics a tougher time.
Yeah, but for now, I consider Tampa, Boston, Twins, Detroit, LA and Texas as the Yanks competition. It could fall in many different ways with those 6 teams in 60 days.
Good for the Rangers if they can pull this off.
Doubt it.
I don’t think this goes through.
Brings back too many painful memories of Nolan Ryan to Texas, replaced by Jim Clancy. As an Astros fan, Texas is the only team that I wouldn’t trade him to. It would be less shameful and embarrassing to see him pitching for the Cards.
15 minutes before this is bunked off.
I’d love to see this deal go down. I’ve always liked Roy Oswalt (and Lance Berkman, but that’s a different thread), so its tough to see them in the Houston situation now. Not so sure Texas is just Oswalt away… but he’d definitely be closer there. That said…. yeah, I’ll believe this when I see it.As a Red Sox fan, I’d love to have to watch a ton of teams in the wild card chase, as opposed to just one or two (or, none… but that’s obviously not in the cards this season.).
the true answer as to how big of a player the Rangers are by the trade deadline, regarding trades, will come tomorrow as the Rangers date in bankruptcy court has finally come. If Judge D Michael Lynn decides that the Rangers should not be responsible for the debt of TWO other sports teams, Dallas Stars and Liverpool Football Club, then the Rangers will probably make a splash.
Good for the Rangers if this happens. Oswalt is a stand-up pitcher. Of course, the move from the NL to the AL hasn’t been kind to many high profile pitchers of late. Playing in Arlington probably won’t help much either.
Could easily give them another 110+ innings with an ERA in the high 3’s. That’s solid, especially if it doesn’t cost you much in terms of prospects.
Oswalt can control where he goes. While different quotes get thrown around from different sources about where he would go and where he’d not go, one thing that’s clear is he likes working and living in Texas. The Rangers are in contention, they have holes but they’re a fun team to watch, and no one is taking control of that division anytime soon.
Oswalt would definitely help put them in the running for a division title and the wild card and he wants to play for a contender. If he can do that in Texas and the teams can match up on a deal, then this is a strong possibility. The Astros lose leverage with every passing day, they don’t — and probably shouldn’t wait until the deadline. Everyone knows they’re going nowhere and everyone knows Oswalt is available.
*they don’t need to — and probably shouldn’t — wait until the deadline.
Don’t you hate it when the edit button isn’t working?
Don’t you hate it when the edit button isn’t working?
What really happened here is the Rangers front office has heard so much about Roy Oswalt recently, that when asking about the availability of Brett Meyers – a much more realistic option – they said Roy Oswalt and set the rumor mill off.
I have no doubt the Rangers want Oswalt. The Rangers will be in Houston this weekend to play the Lone Star Series with the Astros and Nolan Ryan will be in town too to appear at the games and at a Tri-Star show. It’d be nice to think that he will slip Uncle Drayton a sedative and convince him to trade Oswalt and pay half his remaining salary at least…