Roy Oswalt: Still Not Signing With The Red Sox. Yet!
by Marc Normandin on Feb 9, 2012 11:30 AM EST
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Roy Oswalt is closer to signing with the Red Sox today than he was yesterday. But not because of anything the Red Sox or Oswalt did. This has more to do with what the Rangers, Cardinals, and depending on how you feel about rumors, the Reds did not do. The clock is ticking on Oswalt's off-season, and eventually he might have to stop being so picky about how close to home he is or isn't.
Nick Cafardo has the latest in nothingness on Oswalt:
Regarding Oswalt, a major league source indicates that the 34-year-old righthander's priority is geographic, not financial, meaning the Red Sox are offering what Oswalt would accept, but he prefers a place like St. Louis or Texas over Boston.
Emphasis added for a reason: Boston, financially, is offering Roy Oswalt what his bank account desires. Whether this means Oswalt has settled on $5-6 million as being what he's going to have to take, or the Red Sox have increased their offer to meet Oswalt's minimum demands is unclear. What we do know is that the Red Sox aren't about to move any closer to Oswalt's home in order to sign him, so as of yet, Roy waits. And waits.
As we've been over, oh, a dozen times by now, the Rangers and Cardinals don't have room for Oswalt. The righty sure would love to get in on either club, but the Rangers don't seem interested given their full roster -- Alexi Ogando was already demoted to the bullpen, and they don't seem keen on sending Matt Harrison back to rejoin him, too --and the Cardinals have to move money around to make it happen (and have been trying to for quite some time now).
The Red Sox do have room for Oswalt, and even if they don't need him, it sure would be great to have him. You would rather have Oswalt and not need him, then need him and not have him, and that's coming from someone who thinks Daniel Bard and at least one of the half-dozen other options are going to do well in the 2012 rotation. You could argue the same for the Rangers and Cardinals, but, say it with me now: they don't have room for Oswalt.
Basically, the off-season is going to run out at some point soon, and Oswalt is going to be forced to make a decision that doesn't involve geography. With Boston offering competitive money on a competitive team, you have to think they are likely to get him. Even if Oswalt is doing his best to make sure no one in the Greater Boston area feels that way.
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If we can make a trade, do it, otherwise we should sign Garland and tell Oswalt to stuff it. I hope he has fun sitting on his couch all season.
"I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it."
-JD Salinger.
by TheLoneDavid on Feb 9, 2012 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
You don't want Harden anymore?
"Man you are one pathetic loser. No offense." - Lloyd Christmas
"To every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, easy to understand and wrong." – H. L. Mencken
by Lloyd Christmas on Feb 10, 2012 4:24 AM EST up reply actions
take a guess
“He don’t know me very well, do he?”
"Man you are one pathetic loser. No offense." - Lloyd Christmas
"To every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, easy to understand and wrong." – H. L. Mencken
by Lloyd Christmas on Feb 11, 2012 7:26 AM EST up reply actions
I joke about him not wanting to be here
But I’m sure he wouldn’t actually mind being in Boston. It’s just pretty obvious where his preferences are, and how important geography is to him at this stage in his career.
Twitter: @Marc_Normandin
by Marc Normandin on Feb 9, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
I think if he really didn't mind pitching in Boston then
He’d have 6 million reasons not to mind signing a contract.
Yep
It’d be like being asked out by someone and turning them down because they’re not your type.
Then asking out two people who both turn you down cause you’re not their type
Then going back to the person you turned down and asking them back out because somehow they are now your type – oh and they have to pay for dinner.
Not even
They get the hot dogs that are still there at 3am that look like they are going to grow legs and walk out the door.
by The Name is Dalton on Feb 9, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
Someone wanting to pitch near their home
is not the same thing as not wanting to pitch for the Red Sox. It all ends once you’re on the field. He certainly gave his all for the Phillies.
by abbreviatedman on Feb 9, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
sure
but Boston has a terrible reputation with players, I am sure Oswalt wants nothing to do with Boston after what happened last season. Plus if you are a player why come to Boston, most of its fan base is actively trying to get one of their free agents traded bc they dont personally believe Fenway is the wrong park for him. Does not look good to other FAs. Why deal with the headache.
So...
… it’s Sean’s fault?
The Year of Extreme Opinions
BLAAAAAAARGH OMFG SIGN STARTERS!!
I apologize if this post has offended you in any way. Please retroactively ignore it. Thank you for your consideration.
by nuthinboutnuthin on Feb 9, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not sure how you can be sure of Oswalt's motivations.
Which free agents, exactly, have turned down offers of even money from the Red Sox to sign with someone else because of the Boston media and fans?
People make up all kinds of narratives of what players do and do not want to play for. They want to play for a winner. They’re uncomfortable in the limelight. They love the attention. They hate the attention. They love passionate fans. They hate passionate fans.
Players were supposed to stay away from Boston because we were cursed. Then we weren’t cursed, and we were a regular winner. Now we’ve had a couple bad PR months and we’re all of a sudden not supposed to be a big draw for free agents? Yet throughout this all, we’ve continued to sign the players we give the most money to.
Players play for money. Sometimes they’ll give up some money to play near their home (like Wilson with the Angels), but that seems to be about it for an exception. Player play for money.
by abbreviatedman on Feb 9, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
I don't really care about that
it’s not like he’s going to not pitch because of it. He’s still trying to regain value for a longer-term contract. Hell, maybe thats better- if he’s definitely not gonna re-sign here afterwards, we can almost certainly make him a qualifying offer when he leaves!
On aone year deal
and given he may be looking for another couple of years after this one, a whole lot.
His addition would be a game changer.
Good point
I think a writer over at boston.com discussed this also. Boston is not the place to be if you really don’t want to be here. Most of his career was spent in Houston, a low-pressure market, and he as pitched his entire career in the NL.
Philly would not exactly meet my definition of a low-pressure market
Or a pitcher’s park.
Here's hoping.
And even if we are at his stated financial target, maybe if Monday’s Ortiz hearing goes well, it allows us to bump up our offer by a million or two and seal the deal.
I think he'd rather play in Boston than not play in Mississippi.
Those appear to be his choices right now. He’s simply waiting to see if he gets more options to choose from.
by dsharp on Feb 9, 2012 12:05 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
So...
He’s going to just spend the season at home, take a year off?
Twitter: @Marc_Normandin
by Marc Normandin on Feb 9, 2012 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
Don't expect him to make a decision until Ortiz' arbitration case is over
If the Sox win, he’d probably be in fair position to demand a couple million more from them.
Because he has so many other teams vying for his services?
Sorry, but I’m having difficulty seeing how he’s negotiating from a position of strength, regardless of what happens with Ortiz’ arb case.
Agreed
He kind of threw his leverage out the window, since “Well I won’t pitch for anyone!” isn’t an option.
Twitter: @Marc_Normandin
by Marc Normandin on Feb 9, 2012 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
Right, I'm also assuming, reading between the lines in rumors,
that the Cardinals have offered him the same $5-6 million the Red Sox have, but haven’t guaranteed him a rotation spot. Maybe I’m reading into that too far, but if I’m right, that would be a chance for him to say “Up it by $2 million or I’ll take the Cardinals offer and be close to home.”
This makes me think
The Red Sox upped their offer a bit — since the Cardinals can’t afford to — in order to compensate for the geography. But Oswalt is still really hoping for geography.
Twitter: @Marc_Normandin
by Marc Normandin on Feb 9, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
as for oswalt
i wouldnt sign him if he isnt going to be happy here he wont pitch well
Now that I don't agree with
He’ll pitch just fine, I just don’t like the way he’s going about his business
"he won't pitch well"
He should fit right in
The Year of Extreme Opinions
BLAAAAAAARGH OMFG SIGN STARTERS!!
I apologize if this post has offended you in any way. Please retroactively ignore it. Thank you for your consideration.
by nuthinboutnuthin on Feb 9, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
the FO hasn't asked the right questions
“Mr. Oswalt…Roy, how do you like your chicken”….
LOL at some fans thinking we should pass on a potential impact starting pitcher.
Too funny. We are desperate for starters, so we are going to pass on the best one left because he wants to play near home?
I don’t care if we were the last team that Oswalt wanted to sign with, literally 30th out of 30th on his list. If he has no other options and signs here is absolutely makes this team better.
My Twitter @totheights
Yes players distracted by things going on at home just play so well
JD Drew during his son’s sickness was fantastic, so was John Lackey last year and Jason Varitek when he marriage fell apart.
"I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it."
-JD Salinger.
he's not distracted by issues at home
just prefers to play close to it. Wanting to be near your home is not the emotional equivalent of going through a divorce.
This
"Man you are one pathetic loser. No offense." - Lloyd Christmas
"To every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, easy to understand and wrong." – H. L. Mencken
by Lloyd Christmas on Feb 10, 2012 4:10 AM EST up reply actions
OMG!
I think I left the iron plugged in!
>homerun<
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
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Keep trying
Players get traded all the time and perform well. Oswalt got traded from Houston to Philly midseason and although he may not have been happy about it he did just fine.
a thought
also, given the situation mentioned concerning Rangers and Cardinals being full on rotation- if he were an upgrade, why are none of them looking to make a trade to accommodate bringing him in? It’s kinda perplexing- especially knowing that several teams have some level of interest- maybe there’s someone on rangers staff or cardinals, that would be interesting proposition for the sox, that could potentially open up dollars and space???
Well the problem there is
you’re trading a guy who is under control for longer than just 2012 for a one-year rental. If you’ve got guys in the upper minors who are almost ready to come up then it makes some sense, but it really doesn’t if you don’t.
"I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it."
-JD Salinger.
another problem seems that Oswalt and/or his agent have an overinflated opinion
of his abilities, and market. being overly picky and demanding at this point in time don’t appear to be opening the doors he thought would open…
Wouldn't this be assuming that the sole reason he is holding out is for more money?
If he was saying, “I’ll only pitch for XX amount of dollars” than that is one thing but we don’t know that. Also, I don’t think he ever thought that telling Pittsburgh and Detroit outright NO would open any doors. He and his agent are apparently being honest in what they want in terms of non-financial aspects, which really is something considering we live in the age where all negotiations have a “Mystery team” involved that drives a bidding war.
He, on his own, has cut down the market to a select few teams. The only thing he may be overestimating is the Rangers and Cardinals willingness to move payroll and a SP to make room for him. Believing he has what it takes to earn a starting role is not overinflated, it is spot on and several teams offering him one is direct proof of it.
by The Name is Dalton on Feb 9, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions
Cards have Shelby Miller nearly ready...
…Rangers have Martin Perez, Neil Ramirez.
by UltimateCranston on Feb 9, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
Cards also have Lohse and Westbrook leaving after this year
Rangers have almost as many damn pitchers as the Rays. They already have too many starters for this season. Can’t see them paying for Oswalt unless someone offers them way too much for one of their pitchers (most of them have a decent shot at being better than Oswalt anyways)
IMO, he's trying to leverage more money out of the Sox
How much time would he get to spend at home even if he signed with STL or TEX? Think about the travel and work schedule for a major league player. They’re away 1/2 the time anyway, and for a series of games at home he’s probably not going to commute from St. Louis or Arlington to Arkansas or Mississippi or wherever every day.
and that's about the only thing that makes sense..
a “make it worth my while to not be closer to home”…even if the closer to home teams have no room…
Money talks and bullsh**t walks
This is about more than just money – if the Sox rent him for one year then fine. I agree with Bob – I do not like how he is conducting himself – but who cares if he brings 150-200 quality innings to Fenway. I am from New England and I sure as heck would not want to relocate to Mississippi unless that was my only job offer; and, I would hold out as long as possible too. He probably feels the same way about Mass and is holding out for something closer to his home & comfort zone. Just sayin’
"Man that ball got outta here in a hurry, you know anything that travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don't you think?" - Crash Davis
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