Houston ace Roy Oswalt said today that he didn't explicitly demand a trade, but rather expressed to Astros owner Drayton McLane that a deal may be in the best interest of both sides, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
"I just kind of asked as an option, and what they were thinking as far as which direction they're going, do they plan to get young, or try to get some more players, or what direction are they going?" said Oswalt. "They didn't really have an answer for what they were going to do right now."
"I'm not looking for an 'out' for me, from the standpoint as a franchise player for ten years," the right-hander added. "But I think it would be a good thing for both of us."
According to sources, Oswalt would only waive his no-trade clause if he was being dealt to a team he felt could immediately contend for a championship. Olney says that the 32-year-old has a few preferred destinations in mind, but that he wouldn't specify them.
MLBTR's Mark Polishuk wrote last night that a few clubs who could be on Oswalt's wish list aren't necessarily good fits. Olney also looks at some potential destinations in his article, naming the Tigers, Rangers, Dodgers, and Angels as some teams whose interest in Oswalt might be outweighed by various roadblocks. Given Oswalt's no-trade clause, his salary, and the lack of clear-cut suitors, a deal may be difficult to work out.
This will probably end up like Halladay last year. High asking price and big contract will be too much for teams to handle.
Wow didn’t even think about the Tigers but they seem like a solid fit. Obviously not a world-series contender this year but they have alot of expiring contracts with a ton of highly payed pitchers expiring and this may be a nice move for them.
Does he have to explain himself? The team spent so long delaying a youth movement in favor of trying to be a win-now team that they’ve made either direction nearly impossible. When they rode out the Biggio farewell parade for two years of complete futility, they punted, and it’s hard to blame Oswalt for having had enough. He lives in a tiny rural town–he doesn’t need more money. The guy deserves a chance with a functional, winning organization.
His contract is what will keep him in Houston
Nobody will want 3 years of 16+ million and I doubt he will opt out of his last year
Wilson Ramos is blocked for god-knows-how-long and is pretty much trade bait at this point. Minnesota sound like a good idea? They could use a definitive ace like Oswalt and they’re favorites to win the division. I’d call them contenders. Depends on how much room they have in payroll, but the new Pohlads seem willing to spend.
Liriano has been doing quite a good job as the leader of their staff. It seems a bit excessive to trade for Oswalt.
True, he has been good, but in a position like that, and with a blue-chip like Ramos, it wouldn’t hurt to try. I’d take the deal because Liriano’s young and hasn’t had too much experience as a staff leader. With all the young guys Minnesota has, they’d benefit from a vet like him.
That and Houston’s kinda broke on catchers, seeing as they’ve already ditched Towels as catcher of the future, which he was supposed to be last year. Get a legit guy behind the plate there, start the movement right.
No true contenders actually NEED Oswalt when you think about it. Unless San Diego stays hot and is willing to let go of Adrian Gonzalez, I don’t see any team hat needs him actually set. TB doesn’t need the pitching, Philly, New York, adn Boston can’t afford him with their huge payrolls, Texas doesn’t need the pitching and it’d destroy his numbers, Oakland doesn’t have the talent, Colorado doesn’t need the pitching, Cincinatti may do it and Yonder Alonso’s pretty much trade-bait, but the Great American Launching pad would destroy his numbers.
Most of the teams out there don’t have the talent, money, or need for Oswalt. So anybody who’d get him could reasonably be doing an excessive measure. Isn’t that what trading for a star player is though? Making sure your talent’s so over-the-top you win?
they have their first round pick from last year, jason castro (a catcher), in AAA right now. he is their catcher of the future, so i really doubt they are looking for a catcher. as much as i would like to see them get ramos, catcher is not an apparent need for them for the future.
and what do you mean oakland doesn’t have the talent? they have one of the best minor league systems in baseball
Oakland easily has the talent. They just don’t have the money.
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Hopefully the Cards get him now with Lohse being injured now as well as Penny.
thats what i was thinking. but seriously..thats overkill
3 aces? really? if you count jaime garcia who has been pitching like an ace..thats 4. thats a pretty expensive rotation for a struggling offense.
thats what i was thinking. but seriously..thats overkill
3 aces? really? if you count jaime garcia who has been pitching like an ace..thats 4. thats a pretty expensive rotation for a struggling offense.