Oswalt requests trade...

[Clem Fandango]

Rotoworld...

 

A source told the Chicago Tribune that Roy Oswalt has requested a trade out of Houston.

Oswalt, who ranks 10th in the NL with a 2.66 ERA, certainly had to be depressed after falling to 0-4 in his last five starts following another quality start Thursday. The Astros have scored a total of 18 runs in his nine starts this year, including six in his six losses. A trade is likely, though there will be a limited market because of his salary. He's earning $15 million this year, $16 million in 2011 and either $16 million or a $2 million buyout in 2012. May. 21 - 5:32 pm et

 

Trib... http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/05/oswalt-requests-trade-from-houston.html

 

The July 31 trading deadline is more than two months away, but one of baseball's best pitchers has asked to be put on the market.

 

Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt, a three-time National League All-Star, has asked owner Drayton McLane Jr. to be traded, a source said Friday.

 

Oswalt, 32, is in the fourth year of a five-year, $73 million contract that will pay him $15 million in 2010 and $16 million in 2011. His contract includes a $16 million team option for 2012 or $2 million buyout.

Oswalt, 32, posted 20-win seasons in 2004 and 2005 and has won 139 games with a lifetime 3.21 ERA in his 10-year career. Despite a 2-6 record, Oswalt has a 2.66 ERA for Houston while striking out 60 in 61 innings.

 

The Astros are in last place in the National League Central, and trading Oswalt could help them rebuild under first-year manager Brad Mills.

 

Oswalt hasn't pitched in the postseason since 2005, when his Astros were swept by the White Sox in four games in the World Series.

 

Only from a source, no confirmation. Maybe we could get him and put him in the setup role

[SouthSideRyan]

He'll slot in nicely as our 6th inning guy

[JonJayCutler]

Things like this scare me. Hendry is stupid enough to part with a few prospects for a guy who is past his prime and won't do much to improve this team. Stay far away, Jim.

[Careless]

""Roy's contract has a no-trade clause, not a trade-me clause," Wade said."

 

Somehow I don't recall hearing that line before

[daske17]

Can he play third?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Things like this scare me. Hendry is stupid enough to part with a few prospects for a guy who is past his prime and won't do much to improve this team. Stay far away, Jim.

 

I wouldnt worry about that hapening for the same reason I wouldnt worry about him going to the Cards. Unless the Stros want to completely alienate their fan base for years to come, they wont send their ace and long time fan fav to a division rival.

[shnsajax]

Things like this scare me. Hendry is stupid enough to part with a few prospects for a guy who is past his prime and won't do much to improve this team. Stay far away, Jim.

 

I wouldnt worry about that hapening for the same reason I wouldnt worry about him going to the Cards. Unless the Stros want to completely alienate their fan base for years to come, they wont send their ace and long time fan fav to a division rival.

 

That and Drayton McClane is going to want a lot more than he will get for him. The Astros fan base already sucks so I wouldn't worry about that.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Things like this scare me. Hendry is stupid enough to part with a few prospects for a guy who is past his prime and won't do much to improve this team. Stay far away, Jim.

 

I wouldnt worry about that hapening for the same reason I wouldnt worry about him going to the Cards. Unless the Stros want to completely alienate their fan base for years to come, they wont send their ace and long time fan fav to a division rival.

 

That and Drayton McClane is going to want a lot more than he will get for him. The Astros fan base already sucks so I wouldn't worry about that.

 

Yeah, but if they were to trade Oswalt to the Cubs or Cards, it might not be long before they become the Indianapolis/Charlotte/Portland/wherever Astros.

[Outshined_One]

Things like this scare me. Hendry is stupid enough to part with a few prospects for a guy who is past his prime and won't do much to improve this team. Stay far away, Jim.

 

Really? He's a 32 year old who's having one of the best seasons of his career. Plus, he's only under contract through 2011 (with a 2012 $16m option/$2m buyout). I know he wants to be traded to a contender, which likely rules the Cubs out, but if Hendry has an opportunity to get Oswalt in a fair deal, he should take it. Heck, I don't think anyone in the system should be off-limits in a trade for Oswalt.

[erik316wttn]

Things like this scare me. Hendry is stupid enough to part with a few prospects for a guy who is past his prime and won't do much to improve this team. Stay far away, Jim.

 

Really? He's a 32 year old who's having one of the best seasons of his career. Plus, he's only under contract through 2011 (with a 2012 $16m option/$2m buyout). I know he wants to be traded to a contender, which likely rules the Cubs out, but if Hendry has an opportunity to get Oswalt in a fair deal, he should take it. Heck, I don't think anyone in the system should be off-limits in a trade for Oswalt.

 

I disagree. What's the point? Oswalt is a good pitcher, and if we needed a starter I'd be all for this, but starting pitching isn't our problem. We have aging corner infielders and our bullpen outside of Marmol or Marshall couldn't get me out most days. I don't know if trading a Jackson or Castro (he's still a prospect even though he's up) is worth it for a pitcher who likely won't fix what's wrong with this team.

[JonJayCutler]

Things like this scare me. Hendry is stupid enough to part with a few prospects for a guy who is past his prime and won't do much to improve this team. Stay far away, Jim.

 

Really? He's a 32 year old who's having one of the best seasons of his career. Plus, he's only under contract through 2011 (with a 2012 $16m option/$2m buyout). I know he wants to be traded to a contender, which likely rules the Cubs out, but if Hendry has an opportunity to get Oswalt in a fair deal, he should take it. Heck, I don't think anyone in the system should be off-limits in a trade for Oswalt.

 

His ERA has increased every year since 2006 and he seems to be becoming injury prone with age. He is still a good pitcher, but my point was not to trade away prospects for him because he doesn't make us a contender. And because starting pitching is not where we need help. Of course if we could get him for cheap then do it, but he won't come cheap.

[Sammy Sofa]

OH NO! NOT HIS ERA! Better not bother checking anything else out.

[JonJayCutler]

Heck, I don't think anyone in the system should be off-limits in a trade for Oswalt.

 

Would you trade Castro for Oswalt straight up? At this point I wouldn't trade Castro for anyone not named Pujols, H. Ramirez, Howard, Lincecum, or Halladay. There are probably a few more, but Oswalt isn't one of them.

[JonJayCutler]

OH NO! NOT HIS ERA! Better not bother checking anything else out.

 

Stop pretending like ERA doesn't matter. If we're examining four seasons of stats, it's a valid way of arguing a pitcher's decline. At least I didn't mention Ws and Ls.

[JonJayCutler]

And technically it's decreased every year since 2005. I don't know how anyone could look at Oswalt and argue that he's still in his prime.

[Sammy Sofa]

OH NO! NOT HIS ERA! Better not bother checking anything else out.

 

Stop pretending like ERA doesn't matter. If we're examining four seasons of stats, it's a valid way of arguing a pitcher's decline. At least I didn't mention Ws and Ls.

 

There's a difference between recognizing what it can show and tossing it out there like his increasing ERA is indicative of a steady decline since 2006, which clearly isn't the case when one doesn't limit that conclusion to being based on his ERA.

[JonJayCutler]

OH NO! NOT HIS ERA! Better not bother checking anything else out.

 

Stop pretending like ERA doesn't matter. If we're examining four seasons of stats, it's a valid way of arguing a pitcher's decline. At least I didn't mention Ws and Ls.

 

There's a difference between recognizing what it can show and tossing it out there like his increasing ERA is indicative of a steady decline since 2006, which clearly isn't the case when one doesn't limit that conclusion to being based on his ERA.

 

So you're saying his ERA increasing from 05 to 09 is a complete coincidence? His HR totals have been career highs each of the last two seasons as well. 23 in 2008 and 19 in an injury-shortened 2009.

 

Whether there is evidence he is declining or not, my position still stands. Don't trade away good prospects for a player over 30 that will not put this team over the top.

[Sammy Sofa]

His numbers are still pretty damn impressive for a guy who pitches in a joke of a band box like they have in Houston. His WHIP and k to BB ratio have remained right around his career level for the last 3 years, so this is clearly a guy who can still deal. I don't think the Cubs need to go out and get him, but if he could be had for the right deal it would be a good move. Having too many starters is a good position to be in. Ideally the Cubs could move Lilly and Silva at some point this season to help recoup what it would take to get Oswalt.

[Guest]

Oswalt has some sort of back problem (bulging disc?) that would jeopardize his career if he had surgery to fix it. As of now, he's pitching through the discomfort. How long he can continue doing that is up in the air.

[biittner77]

I saw a blurb on MLB network that the Nats are interested in Oswalt. Crazy as it sounds the Nats could make a run this year. Their offense is pretty good when healthy. Adding Strasburg and Oswalt to their rotation would give them a boost. Meanwhile the Mets, Braves and Marlins seem to hover in mediocrity.

 

The Nats could be the Reds of the NL East. Perhaps not this season but next year, with a full season of Strasburg and maybe adding a few more parts.

[dew1679666265]

Heck, I don't think anyone in the system should be off-limits in a trade for Oswalt.

 

I'd really have to be talked into liking a Cashner for Oswalt deal or a Brett Jackson for Oswalt swap. I don't think I'd want to see either of the Jacksons, Cashner or Vitters traded for him. That said, I'd be interested in him for nearly anybody else (not including Castro since he's in the majors now).

[dew1679666265]

I saw a blurb on MLB network that the Nats are interested in Oswalt. Crazy as it sounds the Nats could make a run this year. Their offense is pretty good when healthy. Adding Strasburg and Oswalt to their rotation would give them a boost. Meanwhile the Mets, Braves and Marlins seem to hover in mediocrity.

 

The Nats could be the Reds of the NL East. Perhaps not this season but next year, with a full season of Strasburg and maybe adding a few more parts.

 

If the pitching holds up, they really could make a run given that division. If they add Oswalt and if Strasbug is what everybody thinks he is (or anywhere near the astronomical projections), they might just win that division.

[daske17]

I think it would be awesome if the Nats were able to make a run at the division. Philly's pitching hasn't been as solid as they expected behind Halladay, so with the addition of Oswalt and Strasburg, that could be huge for the Nats.

 

Given the ridiculous history of getting the Nats to Washington, I think it would be great for them.

[RedFlash]

If I am the Nationals I would hold off from making any major trades this season. This is not your season, you ain't going to win anything but maybe supports from the fans. 2011 should be your target year.

 

The last time the Nationals were in this position they were still called the Expos. They foolishly acquire Cliff Floyd and Bartolo Colon for Carl Pavano, Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips. None of those players may not have been with the Nationals today, but they would have been in the organization long enough for the Nationals to not have been as crappy as they have been.

[jersey cubs fan]

If I am the Nationals I would hold off from making any major trades this season. This is not your season, you ain't going to win anything but maybe supports from the fans. 2011 should be your target year.

 

I think support from the fans may be what they need most. Remaining a financially viable business is important, especially for teams without a longterm stable history of customers. If they play well enough the rest of the way to garner greater public support, and income, it may help them makes the moves they need this offseason as well as enter 2011 with fan interest.