Is Roy Oswalt on the radar?

by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 16, 2010 8:24 PM EDT

I was looking at the remaining SP depth around the league, and came to the conclusion that there's not much left out there for the Reds to trade for. I see they've add Springer, who's OK, but let's be honest, if the Reds want to clinch the Central (against a very tough and talented Cardinals team) they're going to need some extra pitching firepower. Oswalt would be just the right man for the job, because he's a dominant #1. He'd instantly become the ace of the staff, and he'd be available longer term (he's indicated he'd like to have his option picked up for next season.

Which brings the only major drawback to him. Can the Reds afford him? He'd cost them about $9million this year and another $16MM (assuming they pick up the option) next year. By eating most of his contract, I would expect the prospect cost would also come down, perhaps only one prospect of any significance.

It'd be a steep price to pay, but I think it would make the Reds favorites to win the Central, and they'd also have much better prospects in the playoffs. He may be this year's Cliff Lee, which is enough reason to take a chance on him now.

Not being a Reds fan first, I'm not sure whether the team can afford such a high priced player, but I expect, given the number of FA's signed this offseason, that the team would be able/willing to pay for Oswalt and a chance for a World Series ring.

With this move the Reds could also finally relieve aaron Harang as the #1, and perhaps even let go of Bronson Arroyo in the off-season. I'd have expected those two to be let go anyway, since the rotation without them is still full of young studs: Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Edinson Volquez, Aroldis Chapman, and maybe even Travis Wood. Still that'd be a hell of rotation for next year!

Oswalt, Volquez, Leake, Cueto, Chapman/Wood <-- Best in the NL

So what do you think Red Nation?

ps sorry about the nickname, I'm a pittsburgh fan first.

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I think right now its all about what we can do with Hwrang.

It is the soothing thing about history that it does repeat itself. -Gertrude Stein

by Travis Rehl on Jul 17, 2010 2:54 AM EDT reply actions

They'll fall short with the current rotation

Chapman and Volquez included.

Not good enough.

by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 17, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I even forgot about Bailey

I forgot that Homer was on the DL. Which won’t sway my position. I still think the Reds need a #1/#2 starter to solidify the rotation, especially with Harang pitching as bad as he has. Don’t get me wrong the Bucs probably would love to have someone like Harang in their rotation if for nothing else than his track record. But he’s past his prime, and I want to see the Reds win it all this year. Thoe only way that happens is if they target a vet like Oswalt, or maybe even Sheets. They also need one or two good arms in the BP. I’ll admit they could do that if they stuck Wood, Chapman, and Maloney in there to add some depth, but as it is today, even with Volquez back they’re too week to take the Cards, or he Yankees.

by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 17, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

Hopefully our depth is enough.

I’d rather just let this season play itself out, except maybe for a legitimate bullpen arm. I’m excited about the possibility of making the playoffs, but I’m even more excited about this team in 2011 and beyond. Oswalt doesn’t really make me excited beyond this season, which is why I’d rather not overpay.

by wanderinredsfan on Jul 17, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Nobody on the Reds likes Roy.

Though some might argue that "best utility player" is a contradiction in terms.
BuubaFan...

by Madville on Jul 17, 2010 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

and he'd suck if he didn't get to pitch against the Reds

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Jul 18, 2010 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions

This is exactly why you'd sign him

The other is to block the Cards among others (Phillies) to do so. If he’s killing you you should add him to the payroll.

Remember the tried and true saying …“If you can’t beat ’im join ’im”?

Also the astros are talking prospects for Oz. The Reds have a ton of top prospects, blocked, who’ll be too old to still be prospects if they don’t get active in trading them. What better way to get value for “value”. Valaika, Frazier, Maloney, and Puckett come to mind as potential trde bait. Just ask like everyone else in the league has, that the Stro’s pay the remainder of his ‘10 salary. You lose a bunch of guys stuck where they are and pick up a stud starter, who’ll make it easier to let Harang go at the end of the season.

by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 23, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I'ld take oswalt

just to keep the cards from getting him. a rotation w/ him & carpenter in it is not good for reds fans.

by NikoliVoltron on Jul 23, 2010 6:12 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not on here to bash the Reds - truth is I admire them

They are where, (hopefully) in 3 years, the Pirates will be. They’ve built a team from within and added FA where necessary to fill holes/add veteran leadership, and its all coming to fruition this year.

Having said that, it seems obvious to me that Harang, and possibly Arroyo, don’t have a foreseeable future with the Reds. In fact, if the Reds record was reversed 44-54, I’m pretty sure there’d be talk of trading both, just like there was talk about that last year. With the return of Volquez (hopefully he’ll pitch like he did before the injury), and the emergence of Leake, Wood, and addition of Chapman, it makes a guy like Harang expendable, and possibly even arroyo. I don’t hat these guys, I just think its time to move on since the pitching depth is there, and these guys are entering their mid-30’s.

Adding Oz would be a short-term solution to how to make the playoffs and win it all.

by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 24, 2010 4:12 PM EDT reply actions

In a perfect world,

I’m sure many people would like to add Oswalt. Realistically, though, most of those people (myself specifically) would list starting pitching as a lower priority than several others – shortstop, for example. The depth in young pitching is a strength of this team, and while some will flame out / never develop as planned, it isn’t that difficult to find a league-average #5 starter to patch things up from year to year, if necessary.

by Gapper on Jul 25, 2010 1:07 PM EDT reply actions