Newsday’s Marc Carig reports that Roy Oswalt‘s agent is not aware of any interest from the Mets in his client:
If the Mets indeed are interested in signing veteran pitcher Roy Oswalt, it’s news to his longtime agent, Bob Garber.
“Not sure where the report came from,” Garber said in a text message. “I’m not aware of any interest from the Mets.”
I have a suspicious feeling that most Met fans will be relieved to hear this.
Last season when the Rangers decided to move him out of the starting rotation and into the bullpen because of his ineffectiveness, Oswalt became a distraction, publicly griped to reporters, and was a negative influence in the clubhouse. Something that would not have played too well in New York.
However, the Mets are still reportedly looking for another arm or two for their bullpen writes Dan Martin of the New York Post.
There seems to be a growing concern that Frank Francisco may not be ready for spring training and even less confidence that he could be the team’s closer all season long despite the fact he is due $6.5 million in 2013.
Also, unlike last season when the team opted to go with just one lefty in the bullpen, they have already signed four lefthanded relievers to minor league deals in Tim Byrdak, Aaron Laffey, Pedro Feliciano, and Scott Rice.
Original Post 2:20 PM
The Mets have shown interest in free-agent right-hander Roy Oswalt, and the door has not fully closed even with the addition of Shaun Marcum to round out the projected rotation, a baseball source told ESPN New York.
Oswalt, 35, went 4-3 with a 5.80 ERA in 17 appearances (nine starts) in 2012 with the Texas Rangers. He made his season debut June 22 — less than four weeks after signing with the club on a minor league deal.
Oswalt worked entirely in relief last September. He made only 23 starts in 2011 because of lower-back inflammation.
With Marcum already on board and slated for the rotation, obviously they are viewing Oswalt strictly as a bullpen option.
