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Roy Oswalt

Oswalt’s Preferred Destinations Aren’t Good Fits

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Roy Oswalt's request to be dealt from the Astros means that the sweepstakes for the veteran pitcher are officially on.  We've heard that Oswalt is willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to a contending team, and three teams that he would reportedly be interested in joining are the Braves, Cardinals and Rangers.

If these really are the top choices on Oswalt's wish list, the right-hander might need to expand his horizons.  Several obstacles stand between Oswalt pitching for any of these clubs:

  • Texas.  Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News is pessimistic about the Rangers' chances at Oswalt, noting that the team's unsettled ownership situation would make it difficult to take on Oswalt's big salary.  The right-hander is owed $16MM in 2011 and has a club option for $16MM in 2012.  That final year can be bought out for $2MM, but that still adds up to an $18MM investment in Oswalt, not to mention the remainder of his $15MM salary this season.  Rich Harden is the only experienced arm currently in the Texas rotation, but given the number of promising young arms in the Rangers' system, committing a lot of money to a veteran like Oswalt doesn't make much long-term sense.
  • St. Louis.  Even if Oswalt's no-trade clause and salary limits Houston's options, it's hard to imagine the Astros dealing one of their franchise icons within the division.  MLB.com's Matthew Leach (via Twitter) doesn't think the Cardinals will seriously pursue Oswalt since the St. Louis rotation is already so strong.  Leach thinks the Cards will "put in a call" to keep their bases covered, but it's a longshot.
  • Atlanta.  Much like St. Louis, the Braves have no pressing need for another starter, even one of Oswalt's caliber.  If the Braves make any moves before the trade deadline, it will be to acquire a hitter to improve their struggling lineup.  There's also the fact that while the Cardinals and Rangers currently lead their divisions, Atlanta is 21-20 heading into Friday's play and will face a tough uphill climb to catch the Phillies in the NL East.  The Braves might not fit Oswalt's definition of a "contender."

There's also the possibility that Oswalt might not go anywhere.  As Houston GM Ed Wade told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, "Roy's contract includes a no-trade clause, not a trade-me clause…I just want to acknowledge the request has been made, but it really doesn't change anything on our end."  It has been well-documented that Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. is loath to commit to a full rebuilding process for his team and give up on the Oswalt/Lance Berkman/Carlos Lee era, but now that Oswalt has outright asked to be traded, perhaps that's the sign that McLane needs to see that changes are necessary in Houston.

Roy Oswalt Requests Trade From Houston

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The Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales is reporting that Astros ace Roy Oswalt has asked Houston owner Drayton McLane Jr. to be dealt before the July 31 trade deadline.  Astros GM Ed Wade confirmed Oswalt's request to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).  Oswalt said last week that he was "open" to a potential deal and would waive his no-trade clause if he could join a contending team.

Oswalt has been rumored to be possibly the top starter available at the deadline, and after a somewhat shaky 2009 season, he has looked like his old self this year — a 2.66 ERA and 3.75 K/BB ratio in nine starts, though his record is just 2-6 for the last-place Astros.  The right-hander is guaranteed to earn $15MM this season, $16MM in 2011, and will require a $2MM buyout of his contract for 2012, a club option for another $16MM.  It's a steep price for a pitcher who will be 33 in August. 

We've already heard that the Mets might not have the money to make a play for Oswalt, though given their recent struggles, they might not be looking to add players at the deadline anyway. Atlanta, St. Louis and Texas are reportedly Oswalt's top preferences for a new team.

Mets Have Payroll For Pitching, Not For Pedro

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The Mets have the payroll flexibility to add another starter if they remain in contention, sources tell Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  However, a person with direct knowledge of the Mets' thinking says that the team has no interest in bringing Pedro Martinez back to Queens.

Mets officials recognize that the rotation is the area most in need of out-of-house reinforcement.  Though the club's offense has been less than stellar, the front office believes that things will pick up upon Carlos Beltran's return. 

Martino writes that the Mets have been in contact with several teams about pitching, though he classified those conversations as "preliminary".  He notes that trade talks do not usually heat up until June and therefore it is too early to gauge the Amazins' chances of landing a big-name pitcher such as Roy Oswalt.  Earlier this week, it was reported that the $33MM that remains on Oswalt's contract might prevent the Mets from dealing for him.

When GMs do begin calling each other more frequently, the Mets may find that they do not have the trade chips to land the type of hurler they desire.  Top prospects Ike Davis and Jenrry Mejia are now major leaguers and Fernando Martinez is on the Triple-A disabled list.

Money Might Keep Mets From Pursuing Oswalt

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Every team in baseball would like to add Roy Oswalt to its rotation, but some of them simply won't be able to afford the $33MM left on his contract. The Mets might be one of those clubs according to Mike Puma of The New York Post, who says the team is reluctant to eat even the $1.8MM they owe to Gary Matthews Jr.

The Astros' ace said that he would be willing to waive his no trade clause if the helped the team rebuild. The caveat is that he also wants to go to a "true contender," and it's up to him to decide if the Mets fit the bill. They came into the night 18-17, three games behind the Phillies in the NL East. 

Oswalt, 32, has a 2.63 ERA and an 8.4 K/9 in seven starts this year, numbers like what he put up in his mid-to-late 20's. Mets' starters have a 4.25 ERA, basically middle of the back, but Oliver Perez is struggling and Mike Pelfrey recently dealt with some shoulder fatigue. We looked at their top trade chips last month.

Roy Oswalt Open To Trade

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Pitcher Roy Oswalt says he's open to being traded if it helps the Astros rebuild.  Oswalt spoke candidly on the matter in an interview with Rob Dibble and Jim Memolo on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM.

"When you get to a point where you need to start rebuilding they're going to start with a guy that's got a lot of value and I understand that if I'm throwing well that they maybe can get two or three guys that can fill holes that they need.  I told them from the very beginning when they get to that point I would be open to [being traded]."

The 32-year-old righty explained that if traded, he would want to go to a  "true contender".  Oswalt's deal, which calls for him to earn a combined $31MM in this season and next, has a full no-trade clause.

Jayson Stark of ESPN recently reported that a friend of Oswalt believes the hurler's preferred destinations are Texas, St. Louis, and Atlanta, though it's hard to imagine any of those teams being a fit.  Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes that Oswalt might be the best starter available at this year's trade deadline.

When asked by Memolo how much longer he planned on pitching, Oswalt responded that he would assess his future in two years.  Oswalt's contract holds a $16MM club option for 2012 with a relatively meager $2MM buyout.

Olney’s Latest: Oswalt, Berkman, Rays, Wood

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In today's blog post at ESPN, Buster Olney discusses the trade value of Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman, which might not be as good as owner Drayton McLane would like. One GM noted that Houston's ace battled back trouble last year, which makes him a scary investment because of the potential to underperform and/or breakdown. 

Another executive noted that the contracts of both players might be prohibitive. Oswalt is guaranteed $33MM through 2011, while Berkman is making $15MM this season with a $2MM buyout of his $15MM club option for next season. It's also worth noting that the first baseman is hitting just .185/.290/.352 in 62 plate appearances since coming off the disabled list. If McLane decides to move one of his franchise players, it might be a tough pill to swallow since the return is expected to be less than stellar. 

Here's the rest of Olney's rumors…

  • Despite having the game's best record and run differential, the Rays need a righthanded reliever and lefty hitting designated hitter. The latter will likely have to come from outside the organization, and the opportunity to acquire such a player will assuredly arise during the summer. Remember, the Rays do have Hank Blalock hitting .388/.448/.541 in Triple-A.
  • Olney speculates that the team could use top prospect Jeremy Hellickson as that righty reliever, though it might compromise their rotation depth since he's effectively their sixth starter.
  • Kerry Wood's injury probably increased the chances that he'll be traded, because now his $11MM option for next season is unlikely to vest.

Odds & Ends: Pirates, Astros, Castro, Crawford

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Let's start this Friday off with some links…

  • Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com feels that Neal Huntington's rebuilding plan has yet to yield results. 
  • Olney tweets that rival executives feel that both Oswalt and Lance Berkman would have trade value, but only if Houston was willing to eat a lot of money and accept secondary prospects in return. Yesterday we learned that Berkman would be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
  • SI.com's Melissa Segura hears that MLB will announce a pilot program that will allow international amateurs to register before the July 2nd signing period begins, which should streamline age investigations and signings (link goes to Twitter).
  • Meanwhile, MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez chatted with MLB's Dominican office consultant Sandy Alderson about what he hopes to achieve regarding how he hopes to improve the international market.
  • ESPN's Enrique Rojas tweets that the Cubs have called up top shortstop prospect Starlin Castro. The 20-year-old was rated as the 16th best prospect in the game by Baseball America prior to the season, and was hitting .376/.421/.569 in 121 Double-A plate appearances. Chicago has already pushed his free agency back a year, but he can still qualify as a Super Two after 2012.
  • Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle mentions that the Astros have only $44MM in salary commitments for next season, most of which is tied up in Roy Oswalt and Carlos Lee. I respectfully disagree that Oswalt's $16MM salary "can easily be traded." How many teams have that much room in their budget?
  • ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that Carl Crawford has put himself in a pretty good position going into free agency. The Rays' left fielder is hitting .343/.408/.571, but is only 7-for-11 in stolen base opportunities, and there's still 83% of the season left the play.
  • ESPN's Keith Law and Jason Churchill go back and redo the 2004 draft. Both see Justin Verlander and Dustin Pedroia going 1-2 in a redraft.

Rosenthal On Marlins, Oswalt, Rangers

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Let's see what Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has for us in his latest Full Count video..

  • If the Marlins do not start playing more consistently, manager Fredi Gonzalez will be on the hot seat.  Florida is one win below .500, which probably does not strike most as a failure considering their modest $47.4MM.  However, as Rosenthal put it, owner Jeffrey Loria is not exactly "Mr. Patient".  At the start of Spring Training, Loria said that the team had all the ammunition needed to make the postseason.
  • Roy Oswalt could be the best starter available at the deadline, depending on three factors.  The team must be willing to move him, the 32-year-old must be willing to waive his no-trade clause, and a team must be willing to take on the rest of his contract.  Oswalt will only approve deals to certain clubs and two of them, the Braves and Cardinals, are already flush with starting pitching.  Money will be a major factor, as he is set to earn $15MM this season and $16MM in both 2011 and 2012.  The final year of the deal holds a $2MM buyout.
  • Rangers pitchers Matt Harrison and Rich Harden are effectively on notice.  Tommy Hunter is set to begin a rehabilitation assignment and Derek Holland has been stellar thus far in Triple-A.  There are even more arms waiting in the farm system, including Tanner Scheppers, the 44th overall selection in the 2009 draft.

Starting Pitching Trade Candidates

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As usual, starting pitching questions abound for many teams.  The Dodgers, for example, have to be concerned about the majority of their rotation.  Here's a look at starting pitchers who may be available a few months from now.

  • The Orioles are already nine games out.  Kevin Millwood has a brilliant K/BB ratio so far, and may prove an unnecessary luxury for the O's.  Jeremy Guthrie is more interesting, since he's under team control through 2012.  The question is how comfortable the Orioles would be downgrading their rotation in the short-term.
  • We touched on the White Sox yesterday.  Freddy Garcia could potentially be available this summer, or earlier if the Sox remain in contention but prefer Dan Hudson as the fifth starter.
  • The Rays could probably spare Andy Sonnanstine now.  He'll move further down their depth chart once Jeremy Hellickson is deemed ready.
  • The Royals' Gil Meche would have to prove he's healthy before a deal could occur.  Brian Bannister, under team control through '12, is more attractive.  There's no real reason for the Royals to move him, though.
  • The Indians' Jake Westbrook is still shaking off the rust of Tommy John surgery.  The Tribe probably wouldn't mind shedding some of his $11MM salary.
  • The Mariners' Ian Snell could be expendable if Doug Fister and Jason Vargas continue to perform well.
  • Like the Orioles, the Pirates probably prefer not to weaken their rotation further.  GM Neal Huntington does hold two attractive pieces in Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, though.
  • The Reds have a pair of well-paid veteran starters in Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang.  Harang is basically owed $15MM if traded, so he'd need to go on a strong run to be marketable.
  • The Padres are enjoying a first-place tie, but they do have three veteran starters in contract years: Jon Garland, Kevin Correia, and Chris Young.
  • Teams looking for aces have to hope the Mariners, Rockies, Cubs, Athletics, Astros, or Diamondbacks fall out of contention.  That might make Cliff Lee, Jorge de la Rosa, Ted Lilly, Ben Sheets, Roy Oswalt, and Brandon Webb available as rentals.  Wandy Rodriguez, under team control through '11, could be a hot commodity if the Astros commit to a rebuild (which would admittedly be out of character).  On a related note, WFAN's Mike Francesa says the Mets "have been sniffing around" Oswalt, and the Astros are listening for the first time.  However, ESPN's Adam Rubin has a source who believes the Mets have no chance at Oswalt. 

Stark On Bell, Nathan, Oswalt, Dunn

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Let's check in on the Rumblings and Grumblings of ESPN's Jayson Stark…

  • One exec Stark spoke to implied the Padres may not be motivated to trade closer Heath Bell because he's under team control through 2011 and signed at $4MM for 2010.  Bell's salary could double in '11, though, and I'm not convinced the Padres will want to pay it.
  • Stark talked to a GM who thinks Bell makes sense for the Twins as a backup plan in case Joe Nathan needs a 16-month Tommy John recovery period to get back to normal.  Stark learned that a significant part of Nathan's salary this year is insured, so that frees up some money this year.  But again, will the Twins want to pay nearly $20MM to two relievers in 2011?
  • Should Houston's troubles continue, Stark wonders if Roy Oswalt would consider waiving his no-trade clause.  He says a friend of Oswalt believes the pitcher's preferred destinations are Atlanta, St. Louis, and Texas.  It's hard to see those clubs making a play for Oswalt, especially with his large salaries for '10 and '11.
  • Stark guesses the Nationals are more likely to trade Adam Dunn before the deadline than sign him to an extension.  Last we heard, ESPN's Buster Olney said there were no ongoing extension talks.
  • Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos has been labeled as one of the game's best trade chips, but assistant GM Rob Antony says that "right now, we'd lean toward keeping him."
  • If he can't find a big league job, Kevin Millar could sign with the St. Paul Saints, where his pro career began.  Millar was released by the Cubs on March 30th. 
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