Astros Extend Oswalt

[Outshined_One]

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4150448.html

 

5 years, $73m. Yeowsa.

[USSoccer]

Good early indicator of what Z is going to command...

[sethuel1]

Good early indicator of how the Cubs have completely screwed themselves in the last several years while they had cheap young pitching.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Good early indicator of how the Cubs have completely screwed themselves in the last several years while they had cheap young pitching.

 

When was this? The only one who's been good and healthy is Z.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Good early indicator of how the Cubs have completely screwed themselves in the last several years while they had cheap young pitching.

 

When was this? The only one who's been good and healthy is Z.

 

Probably around the time they had cheap young pitching.

[Andy]

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4150448.html

 

5 years, $73m. Yeowsa.

Uh, ouch. Looks like a 3rd of the Cubs payroll will be Aramis, Z and Lee before long.

[RichHillIsABeast]

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4150448.html

 

5 years, $73m. Yeowsa.

Uh, ouch. Looks like a 3rd of the Cubs payroll will be Aramis, Z and Lee before long.

 

Well, this year over a quarter of our opening day payroll (95M) was Wood (11M) , Maddux (9M), and Pierre (5.75M).

 

I can stomach spending a third of the payroll on 3B, 1B, and an ace.

 

Spending a quarter of the payroll on a #4 starter, an offensive black hole in CF, and a no-show isn't acceptable.

[imb]

Golly Gee Whillackers, Batman! Almost 15 a year huh?

[NorthsideAvenger]

Angel Guzman, Rich Hill, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, Donald Veal, Mark Pawelek, all better be able to step in and contribute majorly, and cheaply for a good 4 yrs, should the Cubs sign Z to an Oswalt type contract.

[Balsa]

Wow that's just asinine.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Considering Burnett's 5\55 deal this seems more than reasonable to me.

[C.C.]

Wow that's just asinine.

 

He's a better pitcher then Zito, and he'll get a comparable offer. Look at Oswalt's career stats. He's been consistent his whole career and pretty much free of injury. Why does this shock you?

[Iceblink]

I wonder how this will play into the Carlos Lee chase I was hoping the Astros would get in on. (Mostly because I want someone other than the Cubs to overpay him.) I suppose Pettitte and Clemens being gone will free up some cash.

[C.C.]

I wonder how this will play into the Carlos Lee chase I was hoping the Astros would get in on. (Mostly because I want someone other than the Cubs to overpay him.) I suppose Pettitte and Clemens being gone will free up some cash.

 

And they still have to get more pitching espically with Clemens and Pettitte gone. Unless Pettitte resigns for a lot less money and who knows what Clemens will do...I'd like to be Lee or Zito this off season. Man, they are going to get a bundle!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wow that's just asinine.

 

He's a better pitcher then Zito, and he'll get a comparable offer. Look at Oswalt's career stats. He's been consistent his whole career and pretty much free of injury. Why does this shock you?

 

I don't think free of injury is a good description of Oswalt.

[C.C.]

Wow that's just asinine.

 

He's a better pitcher then Zito, and he'll get a comparable offer. Look at Oswalt's career stats. He's been consistent his whole career and pretty much free of injury. Why does this shock you?

 

I don't think free of injury is a good description of Oswalt.

 

Why? The only siginificant amount of time he's missed was in 2003 because of hamstring problem. Look at his innings pitch:

 

2002 - 233

2003 - 127

2004 - 237

2005 - 241

2006 - 177 (so far)

[bobbyd20]

One way I can see this contract benefitting the Astros is that it may just have raised the bar on what Zito is going to command that it will be out of St. Louis' price range.

 

Maybe they are overpaying Oswalt a little, but if that extra money spent helps keep Zito in the AL (probably with Boston or New York), it could be beneficial to the Astros in the long run.

[Soriano12]

One way I can see this contract benefitting the Astros is that it may just have raised the bar on what Zito is going to command that it will be out of St. Louis' price range.

 

Maybe they are overpaying Oswalt a little, but if that extra money spent helps keep Zito in the AL (probably with Boston or New York), it could be beneficial to the Astros in the long run.

 

The Cardinals had not shot at Zito even before this Oswalt dea.

[C.C.]

One way I can see this contract benefitting the Astros is that it may just have raised the bar on what Zito is going to command that it will be out of St. Louis' price range.

 

Maybe they are overpaying Oswalt a little, but if that extra money spent helps keep Zito in the AL (probably with Boston or New York), it could be beneficial to the Astros in the long run.

 

The Cardinals had not shot at Zito even before this Oswalt dea.

 

Agreed! They are decreasing salary this off season...

[Outshined_One]

Why? The only siginificant amount of time he's missed was in 2003 because of hamstring problem. Look at his innings pitch:

 

2002 - 233

2003 - 127

2004 - 237

2005 - 241

2006 - 177 (so far)

 

He's managed to overcome the hamstring and groin problems, but his incredibly violent delivery and small stature make me wonder how much longer his body will be able to hold up.

 

I do have to wonder if there are any clauses in there involving tractors, though. :lol:

[CardsFanInChiTown]

One way I can see this contract benefitting the Astros is that it may just have raised the bar on what Zito is going to command that it will be out of St. Louis' price range.

 

Maybe they are overpaying Oswalt a little, but if that extra money spent helps keep Zito in the AL (probably with Boston or New York), it could be beneficial to the Astros in the long run.

 

The Cardinals had not shot at Zito even before this Oswalt dea.

 

Agreed! They are decreasing salary this off season...

 

I think the Cards are done with former A's pitchers. That said their payroll is not going to decrease. I believe you are referring to an article by some hack in NYC.

[C.C.]

Why? The only siginificant amount of time he's missed was in 2003 because of hamstring problem. Look at his innings pitch:

 

2002 - 233

2003 - 127

2004 - 237

2005 - 241

2006 - 177 (so far)

 

He's managed to overcome the hamstring and groin problems, but his incredibly violent delivery and small stature make me wonder how much longer his body will be able to hold up.

 

I do have to wonder if there are any clauses in there involving tractors, though. :lol:

 

I'm not sure about that? He gets his power from his lower half which is compact and strong. Injuries might occur, but anytime you sign a pitcher they are 1 pitch away from shoulder or TJ surgery. It's always a gamble.

[C.C.]

One way I can see this contract benefitting the Astros is that it may just have raised the bar on what Zito is going to command that it will be out of St. Louis' price range.

 

Maybe they are overpaying Oswalt a little, but if that extra money spent helps keep Zito in the AL (probably with Boston or New York), it could be beneficial to the Astros in the long run.

 

The Cardinals had not shot at Zito even before this Oswalt dea.

 

Agreed! They are decreasing salary this off season...

 

I think the Cards are done with former A's pitchers. That said their payroll is not going to decrease. I believe you are referring to an article by some hack in NYC.

 

Oh? That wasn't true? My mistake then...

[cheapseats]

If Oswalt were to pitch like he did in 2005 for the next 5 years, you could argue that his new deal os reasonable.

 

PECOTA sees him declining slightly but steadily over the next 5 years. He projects to be worth $11-$12 million in 2007 but only $6 million in 2010.

 

Of course, it's usually wise to overpay if doing so will lock up a player who will mean going further in the postseason (which generates more revenue through ticket sales, merchandise sales, etc); if the Royals were giving Oswalt this contract it would be stupid of them, but if the Red Sox, Mets, etc were doing so it could work out to be defensible.

 

If the Astros don't make the playoffs regularly over the next 5 years, it's a bad deal. Personally, I don't think their core is strong enough to make them real contenders.

[gorbs27]

Career Numbers (admittedly, just basic stats here)

 

 

Roy Oswalt

93-47, 3.09 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, .255 BAA, 1157.2 IP, 255 BB, 977 K

 

Carlos Zambrano

62-40, 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, .224 BAA, 954.2 IP, 432 BB, 842 K

 

 

Carlos does have Oswalt in age, being 4 years younger. Carlos is obviously in a pretty good position to get a very nice deal. In Oswalt's case, I don't think it's a bad deal at all. When you have proven #1 or #2 pitchers in their prime (which I would think Oswalt, at 29, would be in) you normally don't let them get away. I think this was a deal the Astros had to make, especially considering what else they have in the rotation there. I do, however, agree with you Cheapseats that the Astros don't have the team around him to be real contenders. However, with the current state of the national league, it certainly wouldn't take much to get to that level. They are still in the race this year, being three games out of the wild card right now. The NL is a fickle beast right now. One week you think you're done, the next you are talking playoffs (for most of the league anyway).

 

Bottom line here, I don't think this was a bad deal at all for Oswalt or the Astros. I would expect Z to get something similar, but certainly not more than that. I could be wrong though.