Oswalt Open To Playing Anywhere Now

[.infamous]

Roy Oswalt spent most of the offseason telling teams that he'd prefer to sign close to his Mississippi home, but the free agent right-hander will now consider other opportunities. He's telling clubs he'll play anywhere, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (all Twitter links).

Oswalt said last month that he's looking at a possible midseason return and the probable timeline for a deal hasn't changed, according to Crasnick. By June Oswalt's kids will have finished school, and a potential move would be easier on his family at that point in the season. Oswalt's decision may depend on which contender needs pitching depth a few months from now, Crasnick writes.

 

[Mexi]

go to Kansas City

 

[The Guid]

That'd be a hell of a move for Kansas City

 

[.infamous]

Maybe he will go to Detroit now lol

 

[Elite]

Cut all the bullshit about the fight for the 5th starting spot for the Yankees between Hughes and Garcia, sign Oswalt, move Hughes to the pen, and make Garcia the long man. Then next year, Mo's gonna retire, Soriano will be a FA (I think, might have another year on his deal), and then let Hughes, Joba, and Robertson fight for the closer job and then let them fall in line as the 8th and 7th inning guys.

Long rant that won't happen, outside of the bullpen scenario next year.

 

[RipCity32]

DETROIT

 

[Elite]

I don't think Detroit has the money to fit him into the payroll this year, nor do many times by Spring Training.

Oswalt overestimated the market for a 34 year old with back problems coming off a 3.7 ERA in 140 innings and was left without a seat after the off-season musical chairs.

 

[RipCity32]

We had the money to offer him beforehand, we do now lol.
Said no because of location, not the price.

 

[Elite]

Not after the Fielder deal you don't.

 

[RipCity32]

Money ain't an issue to Ilitch.

 

[Elite]

All owners are billionaires, doesn't mean they don't have a budget on their payroll.

If money wasn't an issue why didn't the Tigers sign Fielder, Reyes, and Wilson this off-season?

 

[RipCity32]

Not all owners are as old as he is. He made it very clear he will do whatever it takes to put a winning team together. The Tigers can more than afford Oswalt on a 1-2 year deal lol.

 

[Elite]

I repeat, then why weren't other stars, or even Oswalt brought in in the off-season other than Fielder if money isn't an issue?

Reyes is making $10M this season, which is what Oswalt was looking for all off-season.

 

[elcheato]

So he's not going to sign until half way through the year or am I reading that wrong?

 

[Elite]

So he's not going to sign until half way through the year or am I reading that wrong?

That's the plan.

Roy Oswalt Will Look To Sign Midseason
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 23, 2012 at 2:10pm CST]

2:10pm: Agent Bob Garber confirmed to reporters that Oswalt will stay in shape and look to sign with a contender midseason, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).

12:09pm: Roy Oswalt has told MLB teams that he may sign midseason, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports. The free agent right-hander explained that he intends to stay ready in case an appealing opportunity emerges before midseason.

The Red Sox, Rangers, Cardinals and Reds were among the many clubs to express interest in Oswalt this offseason. It appears that they didn't have enough room in their rotations or budgets for the 34-year-old, who seeks a one-year deal and a job as a starter.

Roger Clemens, a former teammate of Oswalt's, sat out the beginning of the season in 2006 and 2007 before signing midseason and Pedro Martinez had a similar approach to the 2009 campaign.

 

[elcheato]

I wouldn't even bother signing him then. His spring training is going to be in the middle of a pennant race.

 

[RipCity32]

I repeat, then why weren't other stars, or even Oswalt brought in in the off-season other than Fielder if money isn't an issue?

Reyes is making $10M this season, which is what Oswalt was looking for all off-season.

Because he isn't a long term investment. A 1 year, 10 million dollar deal, most MLB teams can fit that in their payroll, since it is 1 year. And by spending, I don't mean signing every free agent on the market, that is absurd spending. We aren't the Yankees.

 

[cruzg24]

Roy Oswalt is looking for work. Never liked him anyways. All I remember is Cliff Floyd hitting like 2 HR's against him, then next time at bat he was head hunting and hit him in the back, not cool.

 

[H-MYK]

I can see either Texas or St Louis getting him.