Roy Oswalt to the Braves? Great idea. Won’t happen
There’s this All-Star player, see? And he wants to be traded, see? And he has apparently told folks one of the places he’d be willing to work would be Atlanta, see?
Too bad it can’t happen.
Our story so far: Roy Oswalt, the fine Astro hurler, last week requested that Houston deal him away, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. (Apparently Oswalt has watched the Astros play this season.) Back in April, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reported that a friend of Oswalt’s claimed the pitcher’s preferred destinations would be Atlanta, St. Louis or Texas.
Sounds promising, huh? It’s not, alas.
Oswalt is under contract through 2012 (the final year is a club option) for roughly $16 million per annum. That’s Derek Lowe money. And what did the Braves spend most of December trying to do? Trade Derek Lowe because he makes too much money. (As we know, they wound up trading Javier Vazquez instead, thereby treating us to the inspired outfield play offered up by Melky Cabrera.)
A decade ago, the Braves would have been all over Oswalt. Rule 1 in the Baseball Manual: You can’t have too much pitching. But the Braves and Frank Wren just told us that, with this club and its finances, you can have too much pitching.
The Braves believed shedding Vazquez wouldn’t hurt their rotation. And it’s true that he has been terrible as a Yankee. But he’s also pitching in the American League, which is a whole ‘nother ballgame. Ask Roy Halladay if switching to the NL is like going to pitching heaven.
Regarding the Braves, the reality has been rather different. Only Tim Hudson, who’s 5-1 with an ERA of 2.09, is having a big season. As for the other starters:
• Tommy Hanson is 3-3 with an ERA of 4.18.
• Jair Jurrjens is 0-3 with an ERA of 6.38 and is hurt.
• Lowe is 6-4 with an ERA of 5.30.
• Kenshin Kawakami is 0-6 with an ERA of 4.98.
Taken together, the Braves’ starters are 14-17. (Kris Medlen has had three no-decisions as a starter, though he has pitched well.) Could this team use Oswalt? Oh, yes. Will it happen? Oh, no.
Watch him wind up in Philly.
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203 comments Add your comment
Jim
May 25th, 2010
12:22 pm
The American league was “a far different league” for the last few years and there is the additional factor of the DH, but the Yankees look a lot older, the Red Sox are not the offensive team when as when they had Manny and a younger Ortiz, and many of the top young players have come into the NL in the last few years. Right now there is just as much offense in the NL.
Matt the Brave
May 25th, 2010
12:23 pm
What the Astros are going to ask for Oswalt, no, I don’t want him. I’m sick and tired of seeing how many GREAT Texas Rangers rookies there are. They are all from the Teixera trade!!! ARG! I don’t want that to happen ever again.
Sonny Clusters
May 25th, 2010
12:23 pm
When the Braves was discussing trading you-know-who for Zach Greinke we was flabbergasted! Too bad that never happened and we ended up with Ryan Church and you-know-who ended up where there are no Dairy Queens to be found. If we was Frank Wren we would move some players around and give ‘em some new numbers and let them think they was getting a fresh start.
Tom
May 25th, 2010
12:23 pm
It is a great idea for the Braves. We could sure use him. It doesn’t really seem like Houston is giving him any run support.
Joey
May 25th, 2010
12:25 pm
Sure, Christaffa, then let’s re-sign Greg Norton and trade him for Ryan Howard straight up!!!
Woooo!
May 25th, 2010
12:25 pm
Reckon they’ll take Lowe and some strong prospects for Oswalt?
Make it a salary swap and throw in whatever prospects they want.
Bob Honor
May 25th, 2010
12:27 pm
Of course we can use Oswalt. But, who are we willing to give up? If anyone things they will take Lowe or KK, he is simply dillusional. The reason Astros might consider trading Oswalt is they want to re-build. They gave upon this season, so why would they want a veteran? I’m not even sure if they would take Hudson.
Are we willing to give up Kimbrel? Freeman? No way. Both Lowe and KK seem to get their acts together. Neither one will win 20 (well, Lowe might if the team keep scoring 15 runs every time he pitches), but as 4/5 starters, they are sufficient.
When JJ gets back, the team will have to make the decision. For the long term, it will be nice to develop Medlen as a starter – Hanson, JJ, and Medlen can be the top three for the next 10 years.
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
12:28 pm
Our pitching will come around, we still need a power hitter in outfielder the most and perhaps even a shortstop.
Herschel Talker
May 25th, 2010
12:28 pm
Frank Wren is a buffoon. He’s still justifying trading Melky for Vazquez because Vazquez is stinking it up in NY. Meanwhile, we all know he wouldn’t be pitching like that here. I’m not saying it would be as good as last year, but it would certainly be better than he is doing in NY.
So now we look at our rotation. Jurrjens is injured. Kawakami and Lowe stink (though to be fair, their last outings were decent). So at this point, we have two dependable starters. We cannot win the wild card under that scenario. We need at least 3 dependable starters, and likely 4.
IlliniBrave
May 25th, 2010
12:29 pm
Unfortunately, I agree that it’s unlikely Oswalt will end up in ATL – mostly because of the dollars involved. But what most of the posters here are missing is this:
Nine Quality Starts, one strikeout per inning, a 2.60 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP. We have NO ONE pitching this good.
Folks are focusing on his 2-6 W-L record – but that is totally a function of a lame Astros lineup. And this is how Oswalt pitches every year.
Two years for $28M would be a steal – esp. compared to the return on Lowe and KK.
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
12:31 pm
Does anyone know if the Blackhawks’s Duncan Keith wearing a mouth piece when he lost his teeth?
Idiots surround us
May 25th, 2010
12:32 pm
Why does everyone keep saying Wren traded Vazquez for Melky? Melky was a throw in. That trade was all about getting the pitching prospects they got. They needed to dump a high salary and got more than a decent return.
GTSteve
May 25th, 2010
12:33 pm
Anybody that thinks that the Astros would trade Oswalt for Lowe straight up needs to log off
Shane
May 25th, 2010
12:34 pm
As we know, they wound up trading Javier Vazquez instead, thereby treating us to the inspired outfield play offered up by Melky Cabrera.
And dumping Vazquez huge contract and his 8 something ERA and getting the Yankees best pitching prospect in the deal as well. Funny how you always leave that part out.
A Real UGA Fan
May 25th, 2010
12:37 pm
I’m all for it. I volunteer Derek Lowe to Houston.
SC Smith
May 25th, 2010
12:37 pm
Like to have Roy but we know it ain’t happening. And an answer to they cut kinda cutting on Hudson.
Just this morning on ESPN radio they said that Hudson is only one of four active pitchers in basball to have 100 or more wins and an ERA under 3.50. But Oswalt was another one.
Herschel Talker
May 25th, 2010
12:39 pm
Idiots surround us –
If Melky was a throw-in, then he should be a bench player. As for getting more than a decent return, that remains to be seen. You may be right, but you may not. We shall see. In the meantime, we may surely linger in this race for quite some time, but we can’t win the thing with Lowe and KK pitching like tomato cans.
Patrick
May 25th, 2010
12:40 pm
Great Article Mark!!!
I wish you owned the Braves!!!
Adrian
May 25th, 2010
12:43 pm
We should use any money we have available towards hitting, no more pitching.
Move Kawakami to the pen, replace him with Venters.
Keep Medlen in place of JJ while he is hurt. Once JJ is back, I say it should become a battle between Venters and Lowe for the 5th spot in the rotation.
Peter
May 25th, 2010
12:43 pm
Great idea…………LEGEND…….We need oswalt; trade melky and chipper
Too bad they are in love with Chipper !
Mark Bradley
May 25th, 2010
12:45 pm
I’m reasonably certain Houston wouldn’t go for D-Lowe, GTSteve.
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
12:45 pm
Why does everyone keep saying Wren traded Vazquez for Melky?
Did you forget they gave Melky a 3 million dollar contract? Even tho the prospects were the long term main part… Melky is hurting our roster with his bloated contract in addition to his bad defense and automatic out as a hitter. Melky is the current main part and its bad.
Carl Childers
May 25th, 2010
12:46 pm
Would I like Roy Oswalt in the rotation,let’s see…would I like to have Natalie Gulbis in a “clothing optional” two person scramble as my partner? What kind of question is that? Do you think either of those scenarios will take place? NOT HARDLY!!! The astros would be idiots to trade Oswalt for Lowe.I think the Braves would be stupid for entertaining any option that would include prospects for a pitcher that has hinted at retirement with the pay package that he has. Mr Bradley,I applaude your grasp of the obvious. Keep printing those “nuggets”
James
May 25th, 2010
12:47 pm
@GTSteve
You’re right the Astros would be crazy to want Lowe.
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
12:50 pm
Trade Lowe for Oswalt ha. Why don’t we just trade Glaus for Pujols?
LWB
May 25th, 2010
12:50 pm
Why would we attempt to get Oswalt Mark? Why write this article? Has anyone mentioned trying to get Oswalt? Not to my knowledge. Unless Oswalt can hit 30+ homers a year, why would we be interested?
JT Grace
May 25th, 2010
12:51 pm
If Melky was a throw-in, then he should be a bench player.
Melky was supposed to be a bench player but Diaz and Nate were so bad that he got a lot more playing time than what was anticipated.
Benjamin
May 25th, 2010
12:52 pm
Hanson’s had a very good season, minus one start, MB. Just putting that out there. Also, Jair’s been unhealthy since spring training. I don’t think that can be ignored.
Kawakami and Lowe? No excuses for them. Were I Bobby, once Jair returned, it’d be Kenny K going to the bullpen rather than Medlen.
Mark Bradley
May 25th, 2010
12:54 pm
Yes, those eight earned runs against the Reds will ruin the ol’ ERA, Benjamin.
That said, he didn’t get a loss that day, either.
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
12:54 pm
Why did a team closely watching its payroll give a backup $3mil?
JT Grace
May 25th, 2010
12:55 pm
Melky is hurting our roster with his bloated contract in addition to his bad defense and automatic out as a hitter.
Melky rarely plays so he really isn’t hurting the team that much. He also is only one of two players who can play centerfield so it is necessary to keep him. Also, his defense isn’t that bad, it is about average. Finally, 3 million is not a “bloated” contract – it is the same as what Ryan Church made last year as the 4th outfielder.
kurula
May 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
the braves are gonna have a hard time making any moves at all, really. they don’t have a loaded farm system. it’s decent, but all the good players will be coming up sooner rather than later. the only thing they could possibly do is parlay the pitching prospect they got from the yankees into a trade for a proven starter. but i don’t think oswalt is that guy. he’s too old and expensive. if they can somehow trade lowe for a bag of dirt (if only to shed those dollars) and chipper were to retire, that would clear a load of cash for a big name free agent next year…possibly a first basemen. named prince fielder… which would realistically free up freedie freeman for a trade…maybe for a cheaper pitcher that is relatively younger and cheaper and with lots of potential. like zack greinke or fausto carmona…just some food for thought.
Scoots
May 25th, 2010
12:57 pm
According to The Count, Texas won’t be getting Oswalt either. That leaves St. Louis of his three preferred choices. Can you imagine a starting staff headed by Carpenter, Wainwright and Oswalt?! Not to mention their current #3 (forget the name) has been really solid this season too.
Carl Childers
May 25th, 2010
12:59 pm
Besides,Natalie never returns my phone calls!!!
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
All Lowe needs is a few good starts heading into the TD and Boston will take him and his contract of our hands.
Scoots
May 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
Actually Tommy Hanson has been pretty shaky in his last 3 of 4 starts: 4,5, and 8 earned runs in those appearances
Wes
May 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
trade Lowe and McClouth for a middle of the line thumb protector for heyward
Scoots
May 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
That’s a bad trend
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
1:01 pm
Hanson was sick and dizzy in his last nightmare start.
Tomahawkin
May 25th, 2010
1:01 pm
We Are Not getting The Wizard (Oswalt) “Bank On It!”
We have little Money to spend and the stros will demand that a team dumps their farm system to get him. The Rangers seem like a perfect fit if and only if they are still in the race a month from now…
St Louis Makes “Sprint Sense” as well, even though I not sure how much depth they have in the minors
Just Me
May 25th, 2010
1:01 pm
Trade Lowe and KK and a prospect for Oswald. We keep KK money and pay it as hes a free agent next year right. We let Medlin continue to be a 5th starter.
Wes
May 25th, 2010
1:03 pm
trade lowe to the st paul saints for a bucket of used bp balls. preferably cleaned
JJ
May 25th, 2010
1:06 pm
Wow…..that anyone actually believes the Braves NEED Oswalt is just shocking. The Braves don’t NEED his payroll or his pitching, but they DO NEED the prospects and/or star players that would be necessary to acquire him.
Frankly, Mark, I’m mildly surprised (again, only mildly) that you actually thought this topic was worthy of writing about. I guess your time isn’t as valuable as I thought.
Ted M
May 25th, 2010
1:06 pm
I just googled Natalie…I like the way she stretches with that golf club.
Tomahawkin
May 25th, 2010
1:07 pm
We do not need any extra pitching! We need a an OF bat that could be our leadoff hitter
I’m already lobbying for Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates
My basis for making that statement is that it seems like the Pirates have been our AAA Farm system fot the players we have gotten from them within the last 5 years or so…
Wren and the Pirates GM must have a good relationship since they have done business with Wren so easily for so many years…
Mike Gonzales, LaRoache (even though we raised him), Nate-Dawg Amongst others
McCutchen will be the next brave that has come up through the Pirates system…
Tomahawkin
May 25th, 2010
1:09 pm
Add to that Oswalt is nothing like he was 5 years ago…It doesn’t make sense especially with his back injuries…
Trading for him has a Jake Peavy Fiasco written all over it…
awesomeo
May 25th, 2010
1:11 pm
not really fair about hanson
hes been great except for his last start and u just bunched him along with the rest
thats bad writing and reporting
thats why i cant stand u and that bearded fellow.
DOB is head and shoulders above u two
oh and carol too i prefer her
Outside Robber
May 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
….’and Slim just left town.’
AND, None was driving.
fieldofdreams
May 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
Given that he would make us World Series ready, I suspect that Liberty would approve a deal for Oswalt. We do have some pitching at the A and AA level to deal with, as well. Why not package Yunel Escobar, the Vizcaino lad we got for Vasquez, and another prospect, in a proposal to Houston for Oswalt?
awesomeo
May 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
tomahawkin
thats ur claim about pirates being our AAA?
mike and nate?
sorry man but thats just a dumb statement
how do u even add laroach?
we traded him for mike
and we got him back from redsox.
and nates been useless