The Phillies, Yankees, Dodgers, and Cardinals were among the teams that had scouts watching Roy Oswalt's start against the Reds last night. Oswalt didn't exactly dazzle, allowing six runs over five innings, but there still seems to be plenty of interest in the right-hander, according to yesterday's round of Oswalt rumors. Here are today's updates, with the latest notes being added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- With Haren off of the trade market, Houston's asking price for Oswalt will likely be too high for the Cards' tastes, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart writes that Oswalt's pursuit of becoming the all-time wins leader in Houston won't affect his trade status. One win shy of the record, Oswalt says it would be nice to reach the mark, but won't veto a trade to make it happen.
- In an update for FOX Sports, Rosenthal says the Astros are having trouble matching up with the Cardinals and Dodgers, leaving the Phillies as the most logical suitor. However, in a pair of tweets, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that the Phils are exploring the possibility of swapping Werth directly for a starter if they can't work out a deal for Oswalt or Dan Haren.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Phillies, as opposed to the Dodgers and Cards, are best positioned to acquire Oswalt if they move Jayson Werth. However, Rosenthal hears from an executive that Philadelphia's demands in a Werth deal appear to be changing daily.
- Astros president Tal Smith tells Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that he expects Oswalt to be moved. According to Smith, the Astros' ace is drawing "considerable interest," with at least "three or four" teams attempting to acquire the 32-year-old.
- Cafardo also hears from an Astros official that New York might be too "big time" for the quiet Oswalt, meaning there's a chance the righty may not waive his no-trade clause to play for a Big Apple team.
He won’t be moved, unless the ‘Stros lower their demands, by a lot.
When you’re negotiating you start from a position of strength, that’s why the Astros demands are so high. Just basic bargaining practices. The demands will come down some over the next few days and a compromise may well be reached. I’m probably about 70/30 on Oswalt being traded before the deadline. I think some teams will get desperate, and I don’t think the Astros will demand as much as they have been, so a middle ground will be found.
Ed Wade always lowers his demands at the 72 hour mark. a 30/30 Bobby Abreu got nothing in the end because the deal had to be made. Ed is reaching the “has to be made” point right now.
Well that 30/30 Bobby Abreu person was traded by Pat Gillick, so….
Wow if Oswalt is already shook of pitching in the big apple…then its def best he go somewhere else…not everyone has the cojones to play here…but as they say….if u can make it here…u can make it anywhere
Not everyone thinks NY is the be all end all of existence. I love the yanks. They were my first team before I knew what baseball even was, 20 years ago, but as a rural farmboy, I totally get why roy wouldn’t wanna pitch there. Its someplace you visit, not someplace you live. I’m sure you wouldn’t wanna live on the delta, so why judge him for thinking NY is just a bunch of noise and lights
u…u can live in Westchester…or Stamford or anywhere within an hour of the city and its a completely different world…this sounds more like he cant pitch under the pressure of the spotlight/media…big difference between hou & nyc
Not denying there’s definitely more of a stage in NY, but media=drama. When has that ever been good? Roy wants to pitch and be left alone, not have the amateur psychologists at NY Times wondering who, what, where, when, why about every decision he makes. He’s more the silent professional, not the 3 ring circus that is the steinbrenners, aj, and arod.
The yanks are a great team, but you have to be flashy to wanna play there, and not wanting to be in the spotlight isn’t a weakness, its a personality trait. No one would say jeter wasn’t a real man if he didn’t wanna go mudbogging and catfishing. Just different people.
There’s no doubt NY makes careers, but roy is pretty well established as is. Lots of HoF pitchers never played in NY. Not saying roy is a hof’er, but he’s definitely great even without the Pinstripes.
Jeter actually seems to be the kind of guy that doesnt like the spotlight ( unlike A-Rod )the only thing he does to call attention to himself is his high-jump ninja throw from anywhere in the field to any base…getting clutch basehits…and smashing Jessica Alba, Mariah Carey, Nia Long out the ball-park…and plenty of other low-key types have thrived in NY…joe torre…willie randolph…Andy Pettite…Bernie Williams…Mariano Rivera…Tom Glavine..Carlos Beltran….David Wright…Don Mattingly…none of them are really considered rah-rah spotlight seeker kind of people…( and one lives across the street from one of the best strip clubs in NY )…u never hear a peep about him cuz he keeps it low-key..u just need a set to survive here…
* edit ( please note…willie randolph thrived in NY as a player…not as a manager )
Can’t argue with evidence like that, but I still don’t think oswalts brass ones should be questioned 🙂
Why is Oswalt shook of NYC ?
It wasn’t a direct quote, it was a quote by an “insider” that could (or couldn’t be) completely false.
How about all three parties lower their demands slightly. Mr. Oswalt, stop demanding that your option be picked up. Mr. Amaro, don’t expect a major league ready top prospect or talent for Werth. Astros management, don’t expect top major league prospects and somebody to pay all of Oswalt’s salary. If all three of you each lower your demands only slighty, you can get a deal done within the hour.
Have you completely ignored the last 3 days? Oswalt has said, and reiterated, that his option will not be a dealbreaker, and that he’s willing to restructure. That’s the epitome of fair and reasonable compromise.
The team has said for almost a week now that they’ll pay some salary, and any speculation on how much, until the deal is made, is just that, and will vary largely on what is offered us in return.
Werth may not be worth a lot, but he’s definitely got value, which if he was on your team, or once he was traded to your team, you would likely admit, but everyone wants something for nothing. Very ignorant post all around.
For the Phillies to trade Werth they need to get more than what they would get at the end of the season if he signs with another team, because if not the Phillies are better off keeping him for the rest of the year. On the other hand as bad as Amarro got fleeced on the Lee deal, perhaps he will trade Werth below value just to try to pull in Oswalt.
The way he is playing this year I wouldnt be shocked if he were to accept arbitration if offered. This may be the fear of the Phills front office. One year in a healthy protected Phillie lineup may help his value after next season
actually Oswalt himself has not told the front office that he will only waive his option being picked up if traded to the Cardinals. He has said however that it depends on if he likes the place he is traded to. I doubt he would request it being picked up from the Dodgers either, or Atlanta (although I doubt they want him)
He has also never said himself that he would not want to pitch in NY. This is speculation by a news writer. One of his best friends is Andy Pettite, he has always pitched well in NYC and I am sure he would strongly consider it, if presented to him. That being said I am not sure who the Yankees have that the Astros would want. Montero is a great prospect but he is a catcher and the Astros already have a top prospect catcher. I did hear he can play first though, and they definately need that if Berkman isn’t resigned. Too bad Joba isn’t being moved that might be a deal clincher there.
goto LA
I just read that the ‘Stros want Loney or Kemp in return for Oswalt, so doubtful on that.
Colletti wasn’t going to include either in a deal for Cliff Lee who is a ++ pitcher compared to where Oswalt is right now, so no chance he will let them go now.
I say the Phils try to get a SP from the Sox. Dice-K has pitched better of late and he is under team control past this year. He has a no trade clause and many other benefits with the Sox so it wouldn’t be easy but I’d welcome a Dice-K for Werth move with some prospects involved. Obviously Dice-K is shaky and I’m going to get ripped for even posting this but with one less threat in the lineup in the NL, and his past history proves he can be a solid ML starter. The Sox have the ability to offer up Bowden, Reddick and some decent prospects. It’s not something that is too crazy to even consider because the Phils could use Bowden in the bullpen and Reddick could help the OF. The Sox would probably consider giving up a good prospect or two also. But it all comes down to RAJr. He’s done some crazy things for the Phils.
How about Dice-K for Ibanez, not Werth.
Did you read my whole thing? The Phils aren’t going to be able to move Ibanez anyways. He’s being paid way too much. But if the Sox were able to get Dice-K to waive his no trade clause and the Sox add some B level prospects along with Bowden/Reddick why would the Phils not do it? They can’t afford Werth past this season.
Why would any team want Dice-K? He has been very inconsistent. and the Phillies already have inconsistent pitchers. The Phillies would be getting rid of an albatross in Ibanez and the Red Sox in Dice-K. I don’t think Dice-K has much value, hence why the Red Sox would be offering him.
Dice-K is coming off of some injuries still and he is much younger and much more capable of getting close to his top form again. Ibanez is finished. Simple as that. Prospects and a SP would be more than enough to let RA pull the trigger. The odds of Dice-K waiving his no trade clause are very much unrealistic. It probably won’t happen, but it would benefit both sides. Seeing Dice-K pitch every 5 days shows me that he’s still got something left.
lol. Werth for Dice k. I think the Phillies will just keep Werth then.
When Oswalt was in New York last month, he said he would accept a trade to the Yankees. I think the Phils want to trade Werth for money reasons so perhaps the Phils can deal Werth as part of what comes back from Oswalt which can then be used as a trade piece in the off-season.
Roy Oswalt signed a huge contract way back when; it included a no trade clause, presumably because he wanted it in there.Now, things don’t seem so wonderful in Houston, and he doesn’t want to uphold his end of the deal-he has demanded a trade. Since he has a no trade clause, he can demand a trade, except then, he doesn’t have to accept the trade. But he wants to accept one to go to a DIVISION rival, oh, but only after he breaks the Astros all time wins record, and he will renegotiate his final year IF he goes to that same division rival.Am I the only one who sees Roy Oswalt as a jerk? I understand that moving Oswalt would be a great thing to help the Astros rebuild, but this whole situation stinks IMO. Oswalt’s “demands” make him look like a rat deserting a sinking ship. He’d be a perfect fit on the Cardinals though. Whiny, complaining, jerky players and manager-it would be a match made in heaven!
Resentment is an unhealthy emotion.
I suppose you’re right that resentment may be an unhealthy emotion, but venting feels good. Damn good!
Nothing wrong with venting.
LOL who on the cardinals are whiny, complaining, jerky players? Sounds like someone’s a little upset about the direction of their franchise.
well why the hell wouldn’t he want to leave Houston? he’s like 32 already and hasn’t won a world series ring and he knows his window of opportunity is closing. Pardon me while i think he is doing a completely fair thing.
well why the hell wouldn’t he want to leave Houston? he’s like 32 already and hasn’t won a world series ring and he knows his window of opportunity is closing. Pardon me while i think he is doing a completely fair thing.
I say the Padres need to swoop in and offer up:
Webb
Richards
Castro
Darnell
If the Phils want to offer a right fielder straight up for a starter, they could try to see if Sabean will pick up the phone and see if he’ll let go of Matt Cain.
As a Dodger fan, I’d love to see Matt Cain out of the West.
If you were a Dodger fan you would know Cain has ZERO wins against the Dodgers. I say keep him in the west.
He may be winless against us but hes still a good pitcher. And plus without him the giants aren’t as good and that would be one team less we would have to worry about.
Oh yeah, I forgot that wins are directly conducive to how good a pitcher is. Without Cain, the Giants are hardly a contender in the west and their rotation is average at best.
zero, i mean zero, chance Cain leaves. they signed him to an extension for a reason.
Sanchez, maybe. Zito, definitely.
I know the Phillies would love that, but NO WAY do the Giants trade Cain. As a Phillies fan, I would give Werth and prospects for Cain, but it ain’t happening.
As a phils fan I’d love to see Cain in our uni but even Sabean’s not that stupid.
I don’t want oswalt on the phils. A really player doesn’t care about the media and the fans. They care about winning. Perfect example is Roy Halladay. Hes not a cityboy by any means but he just keeps his mouth shut and stays focused and hasn’t said one word about the media since hes been here. We should go after Lilly instead if hes available.
all oswalt stuff has been speculated…his quotes have been that it doesn’t matter about contract stuff, they can figure that out later…oswalt wants to win and has played in big games….how can you not want a guy like him
Oswalt is sloppy seconds now that Haren is with the Angels. I mean the astros are going to get somewhat bottom of the barrel for him.
what do the phillies have to put together to land Oswalt?
now a is perfect time for the trade, werth is playing better, the team is playing better, so Amaro wont be so scared to bring up Dom Brown.
I hope the phillies make a trade for Oswalt happen?