There are lots of starting pitchers for interested teams to consider and lots of interested teams considering starting pitching. Let's set all salaries aside for a moment and talk about pitching ability alone.
Which potentially available starter would you want to see in your favorite team's rotation?
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
Oswalt and then Haren are the obvious.
Oswalt and then Haren are the obvious.
Roy Oswalt has the best career ERA, FIP, and xFIP. He has the best ERA, FIP, and xFIP this season as well.
This one is a no-brainer.
Roy Oswalt has the best career ERA, FIP, and xFIP. He has the best ERA, FIP, and xFIP this season as well.
This one is a no-brainer.
Obvious…who in their right mind would take Carmona over Oswalt? Obviously if it was that easy it would be Oswalt, he’s on another tier than these other guys unless Haren comes back.
Obvious…who in their right mind would take Carmona over Oswalt? Obviously if it was that easy it would be Oswalt, he’s on another tier than these other guys unless Haren comes back.
Discrepancy between the title of the post and the poll; I would say the best starter is Haren, but his cost in prospects would be much higher. I chose Meyer because I would expect him to cost significantly less but still add value, he could be dangerous out of the BP in the playoffs…
Discrepancy between the title of the post and the poll; I would say the best starter is Haren, but his cost in prospects would be much higher. I chose Meyer because I would expect him to cost significantly less but still add value, he could be dangerous out of the BP in the playoffs…
Oswalt is definitely the best pitcher available for the short term. People must be thinking long term or thinking about what their teams could actually trade for, however, because Haren has taken a lead in the poll.
Oswalt is definitely the best pitcher available for the short term. People must be thinking long term or thinking about what their teams could actually trade for, however, because Haren has taken a lead in the poll.
Ideally, you’d no doubt choose Oswalt & Haren but there are obvious roadblocks to acquiring those guys. The ones most likely to be traded are (listed in order of desirability) Lilly, Carmona, & Myers.
Ideally, you’d no doubt choose Oswalt & Haren but there are obvious roadblocks to acquiring those guys. The ones most likely to be traded are (listed in order of desirability) Lilly, Carmona, & Myers.
The stretch run, Oswalt.
Longer term, Haren.
The stretch run, Oswalt.
Longer term, Haren.
As others pointed out, Oswalt and Haren are the obvious choices. But I could understand picking Carmona if your team is an AL team because the whole NL->AL transition merits consideration. I’m not saying an AL team should prefer Carmona to Oswalt and Haren, just saying that there is an argument for it.
Not a very good argument, IMO.
Not a very good argument, IMO.
As others pointed out, Oswalt and Haren are the obvious choices. But I could understand picking Carmona if your team is an AL team because the whole NL->AL transition merits consideration. I’m not saying an AL team should prefer Carmona to Oswalt and Haren, just saying that there is an argument for it.
Excellent poll question, Ben. I think that Haren has a narrow, but clear edge over Oswalt, and the others aren’t really in the conversation, salaries aside. I mean, would some team really rather have Carmona than Dan Haren? Given all this, I’m surprised that the voting is this close.
I have to wonder about the Strohs desire to trade Oswalt, and his desire to be traded. I also have to wonder how strong his aversion to the midwest really is, given his statement that he would veto a trade to Chicago or Detroit. These are two clubs, especially the Tigers, that have a real need and some payroll flexibility in the coming seasons, to be able to afford Oswalt’s salary. There are very few clubs that could actually take on that kind of payroll commitment. Maybe having that 2012 option for $ 16 mil picked up as a condition of approving the trade would change his mind? Jake Peavy saw the light.
The dream scenario for many Tiger fans is that they land Haren and Drew in a blockbuster deal. They’d probably have to part with Jacob Turner or Rick Porcello in such a deal, and I’m not sure they’d do that.
How in the world is Haren over Oswalt in this poll? In terms of only “Pitching Ability” it’s clearly Roy Oswalt.
But that isn’t what it’s only about.Haren is three years younger than Oswalt.Haren has 2/24MM left after this year with a club option for 15.5MM.Oswalt has 1/16MM left after this year with a club option for 16MM.Haren has a very slight edge in xFIP, and also has a better K rate and BB rate.So Haren = Oswalt this year, and will probably be better than him in the next few years. Haren is cheaper, under control for longer, and is younger.He’s also had success in the AL, Oswalt hasn’t.That’s how Haren is over Oswalt.
I understand your point and do not disagree in any way. I simply took the poll to mean something else. I feel Roy is the better pitcher having the better season with better pitch value (as seen on fangraphs) but that Haren would bring in a better package.
But that isn’t what it’s only about.Haren is three years younger than Oswalt.Haren has 2/24MM left after this year with a club option for 15.5MM.Oswalt has 1/16MM left after this year with a club option for 16MM.Haren has a very slight edge in xFIP, and also has a better K rate and BB rate.So Haren = Oswalt this year, and will probably be better than him in the next few years. Haren is cheaper, under control for longer, and is younger.He’s also had success in the AL, Oswalt hasn’t.That’s how Haren is over Oswalt.
Three year splits, d2007- 2009:
Oswalt, 39- 23, 3.59 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 602 IP, 457 K’s, .261 Opp Avg
Haren, 45- 27, 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 668 IP, 621 K’s, .239 Opp Avg
Haren is having a rocky season this year, and Oswalt had a rocky season last year.
I’ll gladly take either one, but I give a clear edge to Haren.
Three year splits, d2007- 2009:
Oswalt, 39- 23, 3.59 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 602 IP, 457 K’s, .261 Opp Avg
Haren, 45- 27, 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 668 IP, 621 K’s, .239 Opp Avg
Haren is having a rocky season this year, and Oswalt had a rocky season last year.
I’ll gladly take either one, but I give a clear edge to Haren.
I took Haren because he has AL experience.
Salary considerations: Yeah, wasn’t the question, but it’s interesting to compare (From Cot’s) :Oswalt: # 10:$15M, 11:$16M, 12:$16M club option ($2M buyout)# Oswalt may opt out of 2012 option & take a reduced buyout# full no-trade clause
Haren: 10:$8.25M, 11:$12.75M, 12:$12.75M, 13:$15.5M club option ($3.5M buyout)
Salary considerations: Yeah, wasn’t the question, but it’s interesting to compare (From Cot’s) :Oswalt: # 10:$15M, 11:$16M, 12:$16M club option ($2M buyout)# Oswalt may opt out of 2012 option & take a reduced buyout# full no-trade clause
Haren: 10:$8.25M, 11:$12.75M, 12:$12.75M, 13:$15.5M club option ($3.5M buyout)