The Siren Song Of Roy Oswalt

by David Coleman on Jan 4, 2012 10:53 AM CST in Editorials

He's still out there, sitting in free agency. The best Astros pitcher of the past decade is available for anyone who can sign him. What's more, all it would take is a one-year contract.

Did you know Roy Oswalt's 2.5 fWAR would have easily been the highest on Houston's staff last season? And that was despite RoyO missing time with a back injury and generally having one of his worst seasons overall?

Did you know that only needs two more victories to take over the franchise lead? Yeah, you probably knew that.

Did I mention he's only looking for a one-year deal?

There are plenty of reasons why this won't work. Roy is looking for a contender and would probably balk at signing with a 100-loss team, even if it was the team he grew up with. The Astros can't really add payroll and it will probably cost more to get Roy on a one-year deal than they have banked up. Even if Houston trades away Brett Myers and Wandy, the Astros have plenty of younger, cheaper candidates to fill out the rotation and the difference between their production and Roy's wouldn't be enough to justify signing him.

And still he sits out there, taunting me with his very unsigned presence.

Could I make an argument that signing him would be a good think?

One - The Astros are having attendance problems. Bringing back a franchise icon after trading away so many would be a great thing for filling up the ballpark.

Two - A competitor like Oswalt could help young players like Jordan Lyles become better. Remember how many lessons Oswalt himself said he picked up from Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte? Roy could bring that same thing to this team.

Three - You'd keep him away from both St. Louis and Texas.

I know, that last one is a bit flimsy. In fact, all of them are pretty simplistic and don't really make sense for this team. Roy would provide an attendance bump early, but would people go to see him in June or July after the newness wore off. What if he gets hurt?

As much as I'd like Roy to make one last trip through Houston, the practical side of my baseball brain says it's not going to happen. Seeing him out there just keeps nagging at my irrational side.

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I just had this conversation with a friend yesterday! I would love to see Roy in an Astros uni again, but I know it’s not money wise or likely. But we can dream a little bit, yes?

by AGirlintheSouth on Jan 4, 2012 10:57 AM CST reply actions

oswalt

i think he is a great pitcher and is not done…. but, astros need to stick with rebuilding…even moving wandy and brett and/or…maybe…would be palatable…and go with the young guys… who knows what will happen….we might be pretty good…i think catching is biggest unknown… do we have any prospects in the minors? mike

by Mike HJALM on Jan 4, 2012 11:05 AM CST reply actions

How come veteran guys never sign with non-contenders with the understanding that they’ll be traded to a contender at the deadline?

For example, Oswalt. I could see a situation where he comes to Houston on a 1yr, $10M deal, pitches the 1st half in Houston where he draws fans, mentors the youngsters, and pads his franchise icon stats. Then, at the deadline, he’s shipped off to a team in contention where he brings Houston back a solid haul of prospects, gets to be on a playoff team, gets a chance at a ring, and gets to make a bid for a better contract after the season. What’s wrong with that situation? It seems to me that everyone wins?

If I were the GM bringing in upside veterans and flipping them at the deadline would be one of my go-to moves.

by Snake Diggity on Jan 4, 2012 11:54 AM CST reply actions

In my opinion

the thought of having him for trade bait is the only reason i would sign him. If he came cheap enough and pitched well enough to where we could send him to a contender that has some good future players that would be a huge win. Hell if you can pull 1 top prospect at the deadline that would be huge for us.

Other than that why sign him. I dont see a huge issue with being that competitive right now. My view is if we are gonna win we can try and do it with what we have but why go spend money to make us a little bit more competitve instead of just get another top draft pick. I know it sucks to have the worst team but the Rays were that way for years and they stocked up tallent because of not only high draft picks but good overall drafts and i would take 1 or 2 more god awlful seasons if it ment getting more talent to compete every year here pretty soon instead of trying to fake it now.

Firesale! Everyone must go!

by astrosfan1989 on Jan 4, 2012 12:13 PM CST up reply actions

I think players want to have control over the teams that they might be traded to. So, I doubt that most players would view it as a positive that a team intends to sign them and then trade the player at the deadline. (I can understand that….I would probably feel the same way.) I suppose the way around that is to include a trade approval clause in the contract. As I recall from his 2010 trade, Oswalt was picky about the teams he was willing to approve and that probably reduced the quality of the trade return.

by clack on Jan 4, 2012 12:25 PM CST up reply actions

I think having control over the team he’s traded to would be of lesser concern since we’re talking about a one year deal. I would think his main concern would be showing he’s healthy for a new contract not worrying about what city he’s in for less than half a year.

by man07 on Jan 4, 2012 3:29 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I agree, but I think that’s something that can be negotiated, and like man07 said, it may mitigate the problem since it would only be for a couple of months and Roy would know that he would only be going to a team likely to make hte playoffs.

by Snake Diggity on Jan 4, 2012 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

I feel ya dog...

I miss Oswalt and the proud feeling I used to have when I could tell everybody “Ya, we suck, but at least we have one of the games best pitchers!”
I want Oswalt to retire with the Astros, and I don’t think he’s done pitching nor is Houston in a position to get him back yet. The only reason I want Oswalt back is to flip him at the deadline along with Wandy for a boatload of prospects, not unlike what we got for Pence and Bourn. This move would be similar to a draft because you’re basically buying prospects. However much of Roy/Wandy’s contract you eat, the more prospects you can buy. Given that they’re pitching like they have in years past.

by Its Gonna Happen on Jan 4, 2012 12:10 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Open to the idea

Oswalt is a great pitcher. I always loved to watch him work because he pitches so quickly and just attacks hitters. He will also provide some stability if the Astros manage to trade away Wandy.

I would be surprised if Roy decides to come back, but a one year deal in the $7-10 million range, with a limited no trade clause could be an option.

by jmike on Jan 4, 2012 12:45 PM CST reply actions

Yes, I would be open to it—-though it may not be realistic, given the probable salary. To me, the important point is that Oswalt would have be happy in this role as pitching mentor on a young losing team. I feel like Oswalt’s attitude wasn’t the best in 2010, because he had a bad reaction to losing and lack of run support. If Oswalt feels like this might be his last year, perhaps a final season with the Astros would appeal to him. But I’m not betting on it.

by clack on Jan 4, 2012 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, the attitude is the real question mark. But you have to think that if Roy-O is willing to sign here, he knows what he’s getting into.

Also, hopefully Doug Brocail or Brett Myers can be the “pitching mentor” that the young players need.

by jmike on Jan 5, 2012 12:54 PM CST up reply actions

Roy Oswalt loves to hit

he wouldn’t be open to playing gimmickball so there is no way he would play here for more than one season

by Bobbythegreat on Jan 4, 2012 1:51 PM CST reply actions

I wonder what the value of not losing quite as much is right now

Just the way things are right now, it looks like the Astros are going to really, really bad. With the right trades and bad luck, this could be a historically bad team.

I think there’s a point where, as an owner, you should probably be willing to spend some money just to keep the team out of that “historically bad” category. For the pride of the team, of your fans, for the value of your various media and sponsorship deals, there has to be a difference between a 100+-loss team and a 110+-loss team. And I’m sure at least some of that can be expressed monetarily.

I don’t know if Oswalt is still the guy to make a huge difference, and you have to think he wants to go somewhere that has a possibility to win right now, but maybe there are other moves the Astros could make.

I guess my point is that if this is the sort of thing that keeps the Astros just bad instead of totally and horrendously bad, I’d prefer they take it.

The Dream Shake

by Only_A_Lad on Jan 4, 2012 3:14 PM CST reply actions

I think he's be worth it for one year.

The way The Wizard pitched after he went over to Philly was incredible. He was the best pitcher on the staff for those last two months. If he’s healthy, contending teams will want him.

If he can show that he’s healthy I think it could be a very good signing for 1 yr <= $10 million. Mainly for the prospects he’d bring back but also for the fans morale & for selling a few more tickets.

He’s worth a little extra to the Astros because he’s two wins shy of the franchise record. First fans pile in to see him tie then to see him break it. My guess is it would take him at least 7 starts to get those two wins considering the poor run support & bullpen help (no closer) he would get. Shoot maybe 10 games, sorry I’m having a bad day.

by man07 on Jan 4, 2012 3:50 PM CST via mobile reply actions

GM show tonight at 7

by Its Gonna Happen on Jan 4, 2012 4:49 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I actually like reason #3...

"In the biographies of men and nations, success often arrives in a mask of failure"

by hunterpencefan on Jan 4, 2012 5:01 PM CST reply actions

Big Z to the Marlins.

http://www.crawfishboxes.com

by OremLK on Jan 4, 2012 6:23 PM CST reply actions

This probably removes the Marlins from the Wandy Rodriguez chase.

by clack on Jan 4, 2012 9:19 PM CST up reply actions

I saw that. It seems like a pretty decent risk to take for the Marlins. Zambrano should stay happy since he’s playing for Ozzie. The fact that the Cubs sent so much money with Zambrano also is a plus.

I take it they didn’t have what it took to land Garza.

by conroestro on Jan 4, 2012 9:02 PM CST reply actions

Marlins are sending Volstad to the Cubs. That allows the Cubs to stick a mediocre innings eater in their rotation, in place of Zambrano.

by clack on Jan 4, 2012 9:20 PM CST up reply actions

Although the Cubs have to pay a bunch of Z's contract, I still think they got the better deal.

Easy

I LOVE THE ASTROS. Now lets win something!

by ccislanders on Jan 4, 2012 11:48 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, especially since Volstad is younger and still under team control for several years.

by jmike on Jan 5, 2012 12:53 PM CST up reply actions

If he’d come for a 1yr deal under $5M, it’d be a smart move.

by Snake Diggity on Jan 5, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

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