As negotiations with Yu Darvish appear to be going well, the Rangers continue to make inquiries on veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt, a major league official told Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News. Bob Garber, who represents Oswalt, declined to comment.
Earlier today, we learned that the Yankees are in contact with Oswalt as well as Hiroki Kuroda. The Red Sox also remain interested in the 34-year-old but, like the Yankees, are looking to cap their spending. The Cardinals have also been linked to Oswalt but could be eyeing him for a relief role rather than a guaranteed spot in the rotation.
I don’t see the Rangers crowding the rotation by signing Darvish and Oswalt. Unless a trade is pending (!) or unless Oswalt is willing to go to the bullpen AND the Rangers have given up on signing a lefty like Gonzalez, then how could they sign Oswalt?
Nelson Cruz misread the ball…
I’m pretty sure everyone knew that in October…
im still pissed about it though..
So who gets traded or banished to the pen? Colby Lewis?
Colby to the Orioles or the Royals. Cause that’s where all former Rangers go.
why in the world would they trade colby? he is their most reliable pitcher. he is their best big game pitcher. Even while Cliff Lee was there, Colby outperformed him in the playoffs. If Colby is made available, i would imagine there are going to be a number of teams interested to make a hard push for him…especially considering his small salary.
Agreed. I hope Lewis extended. He’s not always on in the regular season, but once playoffs roll around, he pitches like an ace time and time again.
Not that I want to see Colby traded, but I can think of a few reasons if the Rangers find themselves having too many starters.
1. Because he gives up a lot of home runs
2. Because he’s a free agent after next year and the rest of the Rangers rotation (assuming Darvish signs) is under team control for much longer than that.
3. Because, like you said, he’d fetch a pretty decent return as cheap innings-eater SP.
Still, it is very unlikely that the Rangers will sign Oswalt, so Ogando will probably just go back to the bullpen, or (even more unlikely) sent to AAA to work on a third pitch.
I dont see Ogando going anywhere, unless it is in a trade. he is nearly 28, pitched terrific for 2/3 of a season and most of the playoffs.
The entire idea you get a veteran like Oswalt is to have more consistency in the playoffs. Trading Lewis (replacing with oswalt) not only would make the rotation unstable from a health standpoint it also potentially lessens their playoff chances.
For a team attempting to stay stable, anything but making him a 5th starter makes little sense.
what does ogandos age have to do with anything?
he’s pitched 300 career innings as a professional.
I dont see Ogando going anywhere, unless it is in a trade. he is nearly 28, pitched terrific for 2/3 of a season and most of the playoffs.
The entire idea you get a veteran like Oswalt is to have more consistency in the playoffs. Trading Lewis (replacing with oswalt) not only would make the rotation unstable from a health standpoint it also potentially lessens their playoff chances.
For a team attempting to stay stable, anything but making him a 5th starter makes little sense.
Colby’s mechanics were off this season because he was playing on a bad hip. This is why he didn’t pitch as well and gave up so many HRs. Of course, he was lights out again in the playoffs.
There’s also no guarantee that if they sign Oswalt, he will be 100%.
Colby to the Orioles or the Royals. Cause that’s where all former Rangers go.
Matt Harrison
No thanks. I’d rather keep him.
oh well.. we’ll just have 8 starting pitchers.. ha
Trade Feldman if we absolutely have to trade a starter. Darvish, Lewis, Holland, Harrison and Feliz in the rotation, Ogando back to the pen.
No way. Ogando and Feldman belong there.
I think the interest in Oswalt is to have a veteran playoff starter. And its a one year deal. Someone will be dealt most likely.
I think the interest in Oswalt is to have a veteran playoff starter. And its a one year deal. Someone will be dealt most likely.
That theory worked out really well for the Phillies last year. Coulda turned it around had we put Worley in there.
That theory worked out really well for the Phillies last year. Coulda turned it around had we put Worley in there.
How selfish of them.
Yankees please.
Does anyone think he would be remotely interested in a relief role? It just doesn’t make sense to me, especially since enough teams would want him to start. And I don’t think he’d be able to dial it up a la John Smoltz a few years ago…
He’s only going to be 34, he has a few more years left before he goes to the pen.
He’s still a very good pitcher, just battling injuries..
Does anyone think the Cardinals are honest in looking at him as a reliever? It just doesn’t make sense to me, especially since Jake Westbrook only seems to be effective for an inning or two each game…
It’s a smoke screen.
i think the royals would be a great match…they are close, so why not take a shot on him for a year and see if he can help them get a wild card….
Does anyone think the Cardinals are honest in looking at him as a reliever? It just doesn’t make sense to me, especially since Jake Westbrook only seems to be effective for an inning or two each game…
It’s a smoke screen.
I wonder if part of the reason the Rangers and Angels are so aggressive this offseason is that they see the Red Sox and the Yankees tightening their belts to stay under the new, more stringent luxury tax rules, so they figure this could be a fine window to try and overtake them.
TV Money.
I don’t think either team cares about what the Yankees and Sox do.
Just in..the Rangers..in on everyone.
Ummm, we weren’t in on Pujols.
Sarcasm. Haha.
I think the Rangers realize that the top end of their pitching was keeping them from winning the series, with Darvish and Oswalt they will have helped their chances in a short series. Remember one pitch and their champs, that’s a tough nut to swallow.
The top end of the rotation has nothing to do with Nelly misreading a series winning catch.
Or lefty specialist Darren Oliver giving up hits to two left handed batters (Danny Descalso and John Jay, for God’s sake!) in the tenth and then allowing a pinch-hitting pitcher to bunt them over.
So, so, so many things went wrong in the game 6 mental breakdown for us. It was almost incredible to watch.
Ogando and Harry in the ‘pen for long term relievers and a lefty, rotation = Lewis/Holland/Darvish/Oswalt/Feliz. If Oswalt gets hurt, replace with Ogando. If Feliz is abysmal, replace with Harry/Feldman (or at least keep them on backup in case Feliz keeps getting pulled after 3 innings).
Hahahaha why would we replace Harrison in the rotation with a MUCH older guy who won’t even do better than Harrison. I’d rather let our young starters keep starting and keep getting better.