Headlines

  • White Sox, Brewers Swap Aaron Civale, Andrew Vaughn
  • Justin Martínez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Brewers’ Aaron Civale Requests Trade
  • Angels To Promote Christian Moore
  • Brewers Promote Jacob Misiorowski
  • Red Sox Acquire Jorge Alcala
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Phillies Considered Oswalt; Deal Unlikely

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 8, 2012 at 4:02pm CDT

The Phillies have called around to determine trade interest in Joe Blanton, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports (all Twitter links). Moving Blanton and part of his $8.5MM salary would create payroll room for Roy Oswalt, but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't expect to be able to free up money to sign the right-hander. Though the Phillies have had dialogue about bringing Oswalt back to Philadelphia, a deal seems unlikely.

We heard yesterday that there's no traction between the Red Sox and Oswalt, that the Reds haven't had serious talks with him, and that he doesn't want to play in Pittsburgh. Oswalt, the top free agent pitcher remaining, is likely to sign a one-year deal for 2012. I doubt teams would commit $8.5MM to Blanton, who pitched just 41 1/3 innings last year.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Philadelphia Phillies Joe Blanton Roy Oswalt

Alexi Casilla & Jed Lowrie Head To Arbitration
Main
Orioles Notes: Johnson, Kim, Ramirez
View Comments (42)
Post a Comment

42 Comments

  1. dylanp5030

    13 years ago

    They would have to package a prosoect like Schwimer, Hyatt, or James to make Blanton worth 5million.

    Reply
  2. Ray DeRousse

    13 years ago

    C’mon, Roy. Lower your price. You don’t really want to spend the season sitting at home, do you?

    Reply
  3. FillyPhan

    13 years ago

    I dont get the point of shipping one injury for another. Blanton has had more time to recover and Oswalt went down twice with back problems. I would rather stick with blanton, then doing all this shuffle for an oft injured Oswalt.

    Reply
    • bayareabeast

      13 years ago

      upside with oswalt is a lot higher

      Reply
    • JPH_GSG

      13 years ago

      Oswalt’s injury history over his career is actually very limited. Sure he’s a bit of a risk right now as his back was never quite right last season, but GiantWilson is right that Oswalt has much more upside. And starting pitching with the Phillies is very deep right now. An injury in the starting five can be replaced with Kendrick or Pierno.

      Reply
  4. JWill

    13 years ago

    O man, could you imagine Oswalt on the Phillies? That rotation would be nuts!!!!

    Reply
    • Kingoftherhoads

      13 years ago

      ::slowclap::

      Reply
    • MeowMeow

      13 years ago

       I bet if they put Halladay, Hamels, Lee AND Oswalt together they’d make the World Series every year.

      Reply
      • jhfdssdaf

        13 years ago

        If only there was a way to spot sarcasm in the comments section.

        Reply
    • Phillies_Aces35

      13 years ago

       Think of the user name possibilities.

      Reply
  5. Guest 4783

    13 years ago

    If Phili can some how find a team that would be willing to trade for Texas Joe, signing Oswalt would seem very likely. I personally don’t believe Oswalt will sign with BeaneTown or Texas so either Phili or St. Louis seems like a great fit for his home team for 2012

    Reply
    • Chillin_in_California

      13 years ago

      Its kentucky joe blanton not texas joe

      Reply
  6. Leonard Washington

    13 years ago

    Sign with the Sox already. Geez.

    Reply
  7. MeowMeow

    13 years ago

    Come on Ben. Come on, buddy. He’s a pitcher with no market. Get im.

    Reply
    • JacksTigers

      13 years ago

      Oswalt has the option of two perfect fits. Detroit and Boston. He isn’t interested in either.

      Reply
      • MeowMeow

        13 years ago

         Watch him retire and just troll all of us.

        Reply
  8. Kara

    13 years ago

    Blanton + Cash to Pirates for Jones.
    Then Phillies sign Oswalt for 7.5 + incentives

    Reply
    • Guest 4782

      13 years ago

      Jones is their starting 1B, Blanton wouldn’t even make their rotation. This deal would make no sense at all

      Reply
      • Phillibuster

        13 years ago

        Blanton wouldn’t make the rotation of a team that still lists Kevin Correia in its top 4?

        Reply
    • JPH_GSG

      13 years ago

      The Phillies want to trade Blanton to free up money. It’s more likely that they would include a relief prospect to get a team to take Blanton’s full contract. $7.5 would probably also be a bit much for them to go for Oswalt as they’re right up against – if not over – the luxury tax.

      Reply
  9. Phillies_Aces35

    13 years ago

    Ruben needs to work his magic… I have absolutely no confidence in Joe Blanton this season and Vance Worley is going to regress to a mid-high 3.00 ERA.

    Reply
    • PhreshPhillies

      13 years ago

      I agree. If some team is dumb enough to eat Blanton’s salary, allowing us to resign Oswalt… that would be amazing. Oswalt’s season last year was a fluke. His head wasn’t in the game at all because of personal reasons, and he had an unfortunate back injury. If we can get this done, that’s a huge move. Huge.

      Reply
    • MeowMeow

      13 years ago

       That’s a pretty good “regression” for your number 4 starter

      Reply
      • Phillies_Aces35

        13 years ago

        I’m thinking that’s the best case. His numbers spiked late in the season and a lot of his success comes from the fact that he lead the league in called strike %.

        I’m expecting 3.50-3.90ish but its really hard to tell… he completely over achieved talent wise that it’s hard to know who he really is.

        Reply
  10. Robert

    13 years ago

    Yeah, if only the Phils can get a team to take Blanton’s entire $8.5M salary for a guy coming off elbow surgery and had an ERA over 5.00 last season. That’s all.

    Reply
    • jhfdssdaf

      13 years ago

      Especially given that Oswalt is looking to sign for just a little bit more than that.

      Reply
    • Phillies_Aces35

      13 years ago

      He didn’t have surgery… they actually don’t know what was wrong with him.

      I think they need to shoot for $5 million. If they can do Blanton + C prospect for Cash + D prospect Ruben should jump on it. Blanton might put up decent numbers in a pitchers park. He might be worth a shot for somebody like Pittsburgh to come in and pitch at the back end of their rotation. For $5 million dollars and a C prospect he’s worth some kind of risk, isn’t he? He was pitching well out of the bullpen and reports on him in the Instructional League were positive.

      Boston’s not giving him much more than $5 million and we’re technically already paying him $2-$3 million because of the buyout… which equates to about a $8 million dollar one year deal.

      Reply
  11. JacksTigers

    13 years ago

    Roy, it’s time to pick. The Red Sox and Tigers are the only teams interested in you. You could have had $10MM from Detroit, but with your lack of interest, it appears that you will only make $6MM-$7MM next year.

    Reply
    • FillyPhan

      13 years ago

      Back problems and cold weather DO NOT mix. He doesn’t need the money anymore.

      Reply
  12. PhreshPhillies

    13 years ago

    Trading the injury-prone Joe Blanton and re-signing Oswalt would be great. Who wouldn’t want to see the Phour Horsemen re-united?

    Reply
    • Phillibuster

      13 years ago

       Oswalt has missed more games due to injury than Blanton has – by quite a lot.

      Reply
      • Phillies_Aces35

        13 years ago

         When Oswalt’s healthy he’s a much, much, much, much, much better than Joe Blanton.

        Reply
        • Phillibuster

          13 years ago

          Totally true.

          The question is, do you consider it more worthwhile to have a guy with a 3.60 ERA (I think that’s a reasonable expectation for Oswalt at this point) who can last 7-8 innings/start, but only starts 24 games (meaning you have to supplement his absences with other “back-up” starters who would be worse than Blanton), or to have a guy who will give you 30+ starts of 4.30-4.50 ERA ball through 6-7 innings?

          Given our bullpen and starting rotation, I think the latter is a better fit for what we can handle at present.

          Reply
          • Phillies_Aces35

            13 years ago

            Depends on if Joe Blanton’s healthy and in shape. If 2010 Joe Blanton shows up the Phillies are in trouble. He was in terrible shape and his conditioning is questionable at best. He struggled every time he was kept in longer than 6 innings.

            Hopefully they get 2009 Joe Blanton but he hasn’t been that guy in a while.

            I think Joe might have a season closer to 2009 but potentially, this is the last year the 3 horses are going to be together. If that’s the case, I’d like to sure up the back end of the rotation with Oswalt given the fact that we know Worley will regress.

            I think they’ll be ok if they go into the season with Blanton but if they can dump him on somebody and sign Oswalt, I’d jump on the chance.

            Reply
            • Phillibuster

              13 years ago

              Blanton in 2010 was not great, but he also wasn’t as horrendous as his ERA would seem to indicate.  Remember that he’s always been a “2nd half” pitcher (for better or worse), and he posted a 2.81 in August and a 3.19 in September.  Considering he’d be our #4 guy, 6 innings is all we would really need out of him (in fact, it would probably help keep our bullpen in better shape to actually use them more than once/week).  Also, he’s not exactly injury-prone, if you look at his record – he only has one year (other than 2011) where he tossed fewer than 30 starts, and that year he had 28.

              If Oswalt is healthy, I’d be perfectly happy with him riding the 4-spot…  But I don’t really think he is.  I think we saw major indications in 2011 that his back is not going to miraculously recover (although maybe he asked somebody to use a Taser on it?) and refrain from bothering him again.

              I would rather have the consistency of the same, serviceable, guy every 5 games (even if it’s not at the same level) for all or the majority of the season than have a (potentially) significantly better guy who will probably miss at least 10 starts due to chronic injury issues that could flare up at any time, without warning.

              Reply
  13. alan104

    13 years ago

    As the world turns…..

    Reply
  14. myname_989

    13 years ago

    Said it yesterday, but I’ll say it again today… The Pirates seem to make a good bit of sense for Joe Blanton, like Kara said. The only correction should be that the Phillies don’t need Garret Jones and the Pirates have no incentive to trade him.

    If the Phillies were able to eat about half of Blanton’s contract and include a prospect (maybe a guy like Mike Schwimer or Mike Stutes, who could help the Bucs out right away) I find it hard to imagine the Pirates wouldn’t be interested, especially considering they even asked the Yankees about AJ Burnett.

    I know people like to bash Blanton, but one a one-year deal at about, say, $5 million, he’s not a bad option to have in your rotation.

    Reply
  15. johnsonpeterson

    13 years ago

    Thoughts:
    1) oswalt apparently does not want to pitch in pittsburgh
    2) oswalt apparently does want ot pitch in st louis
    3) pittsburgh wants a playoff spot

    therefore to increase #3 odds and overcome #’s 2 &3:
    4) pittsburgh would acquire blanton in a deal from philadelphia
    5) philadelphia clears salary and signs oswalt
    6) pittsburgh keeps oswalt out of st louis rotation
    7) philadelphia keeps it’s four ace staff
    8) pittsbugh stays within the divison crown or wildcard hunt.

    Reply
  16. johnsonpeterson

    13 years ago

    Speculation:
    1) Oswalt apparently does not want to pitch in Pittsburgh
    2) Oswalt apparently does want to ptch in St Louis.

    Fact:
    3) Pittsburgh obviously wants a playoff spot.

    Solution:
    4) Pittsburgh would acquire Blanton from Philadelphia.

    Results:
    5) Keeps Oswalt off of St Louis staff.
    6) Allows Philadelphia to clear salary to sign Oswalt.
    7) Increases Pittsburgh odds of attaining divison crown or wildcard.

    Thoughts??

    Reply
    • Phillibuster

      13 years ago

      Ehhhh…  While I have no doubt that the Pirates would be interested in keeping Oswalt off the Cardinals’ staff, taking on a new contract that would be close to 20% of the entire team’s salary in 2011 just to do so is generally not a great business move.

      The more of Blanton’s salary that the Pirates need Philly to eat, the less likely it is that they’d have any interest in making the trade (because the main reason for trading him in the first place is financial).

      Reply
  17. johnsonpeterson

    13 years ago

    why not – reports states pitts/ny in talks for burnett?

    Reply
  18. Kara

    13 years ago

    As for the Phillies, we are talking about trading our #5 starter (Blanton) to re-sign our #4 starter.. (Oswalt) – Phillies are Deep in relievers, so Blanton and say Shwimmer for cash (5 million) to the Pirates so we can resign Oswalt would make sense for both teams.  Blanton is a #2 or 3 on the Pirates. I’d give them kendrick too if they then added OF Presley in the deal.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    White Sox, Brewers Swap Aaron Civale, Andrew Vaughn

    Justin Martínez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Brewers’ Aaron Civale Requests Trade

    Angels To Promote Christian Moore

    Brewers Promote Jacob Misiorowski

    Red Sox Acquire Jorge Alcala

    Jackson Jobe To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Shane McClanahan Pauses Rehab, Seeking Further Opinions On Nerve Issue

    Royals Place Cole Ragans On IL With Rotator Cuff Strain

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Craig Kimbrel Elects Free Agency

    Marlins Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Strain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Recent

    D-Backs Sign Matt Foster To Minor League Deal

    Yankees’ Jake Cousins Weighing Elbow Surgery

    Marlins To Select Freddy Tarnok

    Dodgers Plan To Activate Emmet Sheehan This Week

    Christian Montes De Oca To Undergo Lower Back Surgery

    IL Activations: Walker, Sanchez

    Twins To Place Royce Lewis On IL Due To Hamstring Strain

    Tyler O’Neill Returned From Rehab Due To Renewed Shoulder Soreness

    Shaun Anderson Elects Free Agency

    Reds Claim Ryan Vilade, Designate Jacob Hurtubise

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version