21
2012
Is Roy Oswalt An Option For The Mets?
An article by 
With Roy Oswalt still on the market, seemingly holding out for either the Rangers or Cardinals to make a decision, will the right-hander be left with an ultimatum similar to the Manny Ramirez situation a few years ago and sign with a willing team or will he sit the year out in hopes of getting signed to a contender for the late-summer push. I feel as if with Oswalt’s options running down, his ability to be selective in this market is going to lead him to pitch for an unexpected team. Can that team be the Mets?
1. Yes
Oswalt wants to win, and is such a competitor that the thought of missing part or all of the year because he did not wind up on his preferred team seem foolish. While the Mets are apparently hamstrung financially, Sandy Alderson is adept at knowing the values and has thus far in his brief stint shown he will strike when the iron is hot. If the Mets could offer Oswalt a 1 yr/6-8 million contract with some incentives, then maybe the Texas native would debate coming to pitch against his former team, who decided against resigning him and instead splurged on closer Johnathan Papelbon. Oswalt could be a mentor to the younger pitchers, and would give the Mets a substantially better rotation. In terms of capitalizing on the investment, Oswalt could be easily flipped to a team in the playoff push looking for a starter. While it may not net the same caliber player as Zach Wheeler, a franchise looking for an established starter may be willing to part with something that could be a part of the Mets future
2. Maybe
Roy is still unsigned, and as spring-training approaches has been steadfast in his wishes to pitch for a select number of teams. With the Mets possibly being a year or two away from true contention, would Oswalt want to go into a situation that is in limbo just to be able to pitch? Oswalt could just utilize the 1 year deal angle to rebuild his value for what may amount to his last big contract in the majors. Edwin Jackson, many years his junior was forced to take a one-year deal, and in this market many players have used it as a launching-pad. Maybe a healthy year of Roy will get a team to give him a 3 year/36 million dollar deal to ride off into the sunset.
3. No
The Mets aren’t going to win this year, so Roy would essentially be rehashing the role he wanted out of on the Astros. Though the Mets are nowhere near as bad as the Astros, they are going through financial troubles, have an offense with more questions than answers and although may be willing to pay, will probably look to move the starter. Winning is the name of the game, and the Mets just don’t have it.
While all three of these ideas make logical sense, the biggest question remains the finances. If the Mets made the offer, meaning they’d be around the 100 million dollar mark, would Roy even accept it? Sandy knows not to throw good money at bad money, but one-year deals are the new rentals in the MLB and Chris Capuano, a much lesser pitcher with a much spottier injury history used his average year on the Mets to land a 2 year/10 million dollar deal. If Roy could turn in a year similar to last year, keep the ERA below 4 and pitch 27-28 games, then it wouldn’t seem out of line for a team in the offseason looking to pick up Mr. Oswalt.
About the Author: Sean Kenny
Sean Kenny is a student/writer currently attending school at the City College of New York. For more Mets news, notes and thoughts follow him on twitter @TheSeanKenny
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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Sorry but no way in hell is Oswalt coming to the Mets. He does not need the money so other than that what attraction would he have to the Mets?
Plus, he’s a type A free agent, and seeing how we are cherishing our picks there’s no way he’ll be a met.. also, we are already set and ready to go, sandy said so himself.. so … yeah,…
oswalt will make us better, but, that’s not the plan around here, slashing payroll and draft picks is the talk of the town
alex, I think this comment by the author says it all about the disgusting culture around here now:
“Sandy Alderson is adept at knowing the values”
after seeing how Sandy has operated around here for the last 2 off seasons, and other teams running circles around the Mets signing better players that the Mets could have afforded and put them in a stronger position to contend – Alderson is teflon around here.
He’s being outsmarted left and right by other GMs and they still give Sandy the benefit of the doubt. Say no more.
But at least there’s a lot of articles about minor leaguers now and less about the big club – and they are all gushing and doing a quick two-step about that – reading about Omar’s minors all year long.
Maybe that break should have been longer.
As we saw with the previous regime, outspending does not equal outsmarting.
i would respond to that but I don’t think you would have said that if we got a couple of big hits and big saves in 07& 08..and if everybody and their mother wasn’t hurt in 2009.
In that sense you’re right.
But just remember if Valdespin or Havens or Capt Kirk fail to get a big hit in some big spots and if Mejia or Familia blow a save during a pennant run. Or if the next year Wheeler, Harvey, & Havens all get serious injuries and are out for most of the season
Just remember to blame the ‘administration’ for that too.
Why do you think people wouldn’t. The difference in opinion on Sandy is due to people waiting for a period of time before they judge. No one has ever suggested that Sandy is Teflon Don. Your viewpoint of Sandy is just so extreme to everyone else that there is now in-between spectrum for you.
Bayonne, nope, this administration will not be at fault no matter what, some bogus excuse will come up to defend them, if those scenarios were to present itself (Knock on wood they don’t) i am sure they’d say it’s not the fault those players were fragile as glass or didn’t have the cojones to produce in a big spot.. book it .. back to back years of garbage for the front office and the excuses for them keep flying!!
You just don’t get it it. It is never about just one play or one bad break.
One bad play does not cost a game/series/season. Its about everything around that play that made it have those consequences. the lack of depth, the relying on old, injury prone mercenaries, just over all lack of planning.
At what point do you see failure after failure and say “you know, maybe we are in fact doing something wrong”?
One bad play does not cost a game/series/season”
ask DAVID WRIGHT that or the fans of new york if that strike out wasn’t a season changer.. or TOM GLAVINE about his last start as a met…
162 games in a season, correct?
As much as I seethe when thinking about Glavine’s last start, maybe there wouldn’t of been that game if Reyes hit better in September. Or maybe there wouldn’t be that game if the bullpen didn’t get overused throughout the season so they ran out of gas. Maybe the bullpen wouldn’t run out of gas if the starters were better or if Pedro didn’t get hurt. Maybe maybe if if. Either way those teams didn’t get the job done.
Real quick i’ll say this, it wasn’t as if the mets were somehow coming from behind, both septembers they entered the month of september with a division lead, clearly in 2007 reyes, the bullpen, the SP was horrendous, but in 2008 that 243 BA from out #3 hitter with men in scoring position DID us in all year and one game stood above all, thawt game against the cubs were he with a chance to put us 2 games ahead in the WC and 1 game out of 1st place but instead he STRUCK OUT MISERABLE to say the least and we all know the rest of the story.. also, the bullpen was just AWFUL…
oh my bad,
All of Sandy’s moves will result in:
- no injuries ever and especially NO injuries will ever happen to key players under Sandy Alderson
- No player will ever make an out, error, blow a save, or cost his team the game under Sandy’s leadership – that will never happen. Those things are all explained now because classic moments that blow a playoff or world series or pennant appearance are all excused now because something before that should have happened.
Sandy – you’re in the clear.
You see Bill Buckner? It’s not your fault it was the catcher’s fault for not calling another pitch for the outside part of the plate to try and make mookie hit it the opposite way or strike out.
We don’t even need writeups or stories anymore. It’s always 162 games and a team effort.
Bayonne, when is david wright the one being blame then is a team effort that lost it, but when is jose reyes then yeah, it was his fault in 2007.. yet people here wonder why i started that DAVID WRIGHT’S UNCLUTCH campaign…
No one blames Reyes for 2007. It is merely used when ignorant loud mouths babble on about the team’s best performer having 1 bad PA.
Buckner’s error was just the cap of a rally, right?
That was game 6 of a 7 game series, right?
And Mets came back from big deficits late in both games 6 & 7, right?
Ya, some real Mets fan you are.
would he cost a pick? Not sure between the new CBA and whether Philly offered him arb if that would be the case.
Also, is he fully healthy with now? I could wswear that I read something the other day indicating he was nto ready to pitch yet (but can’t remember where I read it, or for what reason!).
Other than that, why not? Could make things interesting if he was sound and Santana came back to give them anything.
Tempting….b/c our SP depth is really poor.
Interesting scenario about him taking a one year deal here, pitching good first half, then being flipped to a contender for a prospect mid season. That would be a win/win for both. But…with the new CBA rules, the team picking him up would have to offer him arbitration at X amount (not really sure what that league average is) to get the picks if he declines. That alone might scare off any potential suitors.
I don’t see this deal getting done simply because even though TC and others have stated ‘we’re better than people think we are’, we’re not one SP away from contending. If we were a piece or 2 away – and Oswalt would be nothing be insurance for Johan and/or a place holder for some prospect making his debut mid season, it might make sense. We’re not and he isn’t. Not that I wouldn’t mind if they sprang for him anyway….
Yes, the Mets need him. No, he does not need the Mets.
Did someone go through the Italian Leather Sofa in Fred’s 7 vacation homes and find a whole bunch of bundled Benjamins? Because if the answer to that isn’t yes, than the answer to this article is an absolute NO.
He wants to pitch close to home.
Sure, if there was money like we used to spend, Alderson could probably lure him here. but, why? Do we really want to bring in guys only here for a big payday?
no, the reason to bring him in is to add enough SP talent to compete for the playoffs.
So much of course hinges on Santana beating the odds and making it back. but if he did, with Dickey likely continuing along at a solid #2 pace, if Oswalt could actually pitch like he used to then the rotation suddenly does not look all that bad. Neise can develop as a 4 (I expect him to take a big step forward this year) with Pelf and Gee fighting it out ot be a very good #5 (with the other guy likely covering whatever time Johan misses).
Just because we spend more on draft picks doesn’t mean they’ll be better than other players pick below or ahead.. i hope nimmo becomes great for us, but let’s wait a little bit before crowning him some sort of godsend.. we all saw what that did to a few players we’ve had…
Where would he fit, though? Think about it logically. Johan needs his spot to start and so does Niese and Gee. Dickey’s the most dependable guy the Mets have and Pelfrey was guaranteed a contract. Whether he should or not has been debated, but the point is moot now. And if the argument is that your (general “you”) crystal ball would have shown Oswalt still unsigned at this juncture and willing to take $6-8 mil, then you’re not being honest with yourself.
The reality is, none of the five guys now or Oswalt are “depth” guys. All are guys that have to pitch. You want to tell me the Mets can swing a trade for Pelfrey, Niese or Gee, we can talk about it. But if you sign Oswalt, what do you do with six starters? Who fits where?
The only reason Oswalt would come to the Mets is if he loved the Mets and wanted to help their future so much, that he would sign with the team in hopes of having a great first half on a last place team and get traded by the deadline for some good prospects. This is the only reason he would consider coming to a team which has at least 2 years of finishing in last place ahead of it in the twilight of his career. C’mon man…you’re really asking this?
Oswalt would not to come to New York under any circumstances. End of story.
Something else in the YES column to consider….
If you Sign Oswalt for a decent price (and there is no reason to believe he would take one from us) You can get something for him around the deadline to add to your Kiddy Kitty!
Think of it like Buying a kid for Cash!
I want to say, LOOK METS NOW CAN WE GET SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP. Yes do it, the man knows how to pitch. The mets was interested in him when he was a member of the houston astros. If i was the mets now SIGN HIM. STOP THE NONSENSE. We need a pitcher for sure and he is THE LAST ONE, PULL THE PUG ON THE PHILLIES, SNAG HIM. DON”T BE AN OMAR PLEASE. SANDY NOW STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND MAYBE GIVE US SOME HOPE AS FANS>
Don’t be an Omar? You mean Minaya never over payed for 30+ year old players who didn’t want to come here?