2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[BSN07]

I doubt Oswalt is going to be deciding anything at this point. I would not be surprised if the offers that have been made to him have all been withdrawn at this point. Nobody is going to leave an open offer on the table leaving the decision in his hands.

 

Teams will likely see what they have in ST and either decide to make him an offer or not. In some cases teams might be making their second go round with him. Maybe somebody that did not offer the first time around ends up feeling like they need more help coming out of ST. Maybe he still ends up not finding a home and retires at least for the first part of the season anyway.

 

It means he's going to accept one of the s***** offers he got at some point this off season. One that he probably originally thought he would be able to top.

[Palodios]

It means he's going to accept one of the s***** offers he got at some point this off season. One that he probably originally thought he would be able to top.

 

The question is whether he's willing to play for a non-contender. I'm sure there are a handful of places closer to his home that would pay the 4-5 million for him.

[redsoxfan3]

It means he's going to accept one of the s***** offers he got at some point this off season. One that he probably originally thought he would be able to top.

 

Oswalt's agent said he would make an announcement today. No one knows what the announcement is going to be. It could be that he is waiting to sign with a team until later in the season, it could be that he is retiring, or it could be that he is signing with a team. It would not surprise me if the announcement is him not signing with a team at this point. I don't know the chances of him signing with the Red Sox as this point, but it sounds like the Rangers and Cardinals are out of the picture, unless he wants to settle with a role in the pen.

[BSN07]

He's probably better off pitching half a season, but it wouldn't be good if he's trying to build his value for a multi year deal. He may have to give up on that dream though.

[redsoxfan3]

He's probably better off pitching half a season' date=' but it wouldn't be good if he's trying to build his value for a multi year deal. He may have to give up on that dream though.[/quote']

 

If he really only wants to pitch for the Cardinals or Rangers, then he probably will sit out half the year and try to see if one of the teams has an opening due to injuries or other problems. There is no chance Oswalt can get a multiyear deal at this point. He needs to prove that his back won't be a concern for the future. He also needs to prove that he can still be a reliable starter. If he does sign with a team at this point, it would not surprise me if it is with the Red Sox. He has been linked to kind of not wanting to come to Boston, but with him we are World Series contenders. If he wants to pitch right now and pitch for a competitive team, the Red Sox might be the team for him. I am not getting my hopes up that he signs with us, but it is realistic still. Did someone show Roy the pictures of the new Spring Training stadium and the clubhouse? Maybe that will influence him to come here. In all seriousness, I just want him to make a decision already and either say yes or no to coming here. I just want closure. I have kind of forgot about Oswalt with Spring Training starting, but in the back of my mind I know he is still available as a free agent. I just want an answer.

[redsoxfan3]

•At this point, Oswalt is not going to the Rangers or Red Sox, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.

 

It looks like we are not going to be getting Oswalt. I don't know if anyone expected us too. It has also been reported that he might just accept an offer from the Cardinals. Also, I do know that Jon Heyman reported it is not going to be the Red Sox or Rangers, but that is also not official yet.

[BSN07]

It looks like we are not going to be getting Oswalt. I don't know if anyone expected us too. It has also been reported that he might just accept an offer from the Cardinals. Also' date=' I do know that Jon Heyman reported it is not going to be the Red Sox or Rangers, but that is also not official yet.[/quote']

 

If the guy was healthy he would be signed already. I would rather the Sox pass on him at this point.

[a700hitter]

If the guy was healthy he would be signed already. I would rather the Sox pass on him at this point.

Rationalization. We don't know if he is healthy, but we do know the Sox are not getting him, so you'd rather convince yourself that you'd rather see Carlos Silva waddle to the mound every 5th day.

[a700hitter]

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak insists Oswalt "will not be pitching for the Cardinals," according to Strauss (on Twitter).

^ And now this. So far this morning it has been confirmed that he will not be pitching for the Rangers, Red Sox or Cardinals. Maybe the Tigers convinced him to sign.

[FredLynn]

It looks like we are not going to be getting Oswalt. I don't know if anyone expected us too. It has also been reported that he might just accept an offer from the Cardinals. Also' date=' I do know that Jon Heyman reported it is not going to be the Red Sox or Rangers, but that is also not official yet.[/quote']

 

Heyman, like all the other beat writers, is guessing. I take what all those goons say with a grain of salt. No one but those very close to Oswalt know what he is going to do.

And frankly, at this point, with all the delays, I really don't care. Its time to move on.

[Bellhorn04]

Heyman, like all the other beat writers, is guessing. I take what all those goons say with a grain of salt. No one but those very close to Oswalt know what he is going to do.

And frankly, at this point, with all the delays, I really don't care. Its time to move on.

 

Heyman is one of the more reliable beat writers though. He seems to have a good inside connection, I think it might be Boras.

[FredLynn]

He missed more time in 2010 when he was a full-time 1b. The switch to 3b affected his fielding %' date=' not his health.[/quote']

 

It will affect his health AND his fielding percentage. Third base is a more demanding position than first base. Thats why aging players are often switched to first base late in their careers.

Of note: Youkilis actually had a OPS of .883 last year, which is exactly his career average. It followed three years where his OPS was over .950, so it seemed to be a big tailoff. I am going to give him one more year before I write him off as a guy who is falling off the grid. I can live with his fielding at 3B, though its not as good as his fielding at 1B, if his OPS stays up in the current range and if he can stay reasonably healthy. After all, who else do we have who can hit with power from the right side this year?

[FredLynn]

Heyman is one of the more reliable beat writers though. He seems to have a good inside connection' date=' I think it might be Boras.[/quote']

 

Oswalt is represented by Bob Garber, not Boras. I doubt Garber is feeding Boras information.

[jacksonianmarch]

The question is whether he's willing to play for a non-contender. I'm sure there are a handful of places closer to his home that would pay the 4-5 million for him.

 

He should sign with a non-contender in the NL and just get dealt at midseason

[jung]

Since players rarely announce what they are not doing, if I were a betting man I would bet it is a retirement announcement.

[jacksonianmarch]

Either that or an announcement that he's taking the first half of the season off

[seabeachfred]

If he really only wants to pitch for the Cardinals or Rangers' date=' then he probably will sit out half the year and try to see if one of the teams has an opening due to injuries or other problems. There is no chance Oswalt can get a multiyear deal at this point. He needs to prove that his back won't be a concern for the future. He also needs to prove that he can still be a reliable starter. If he does sign with a team at this point, it would not surprise me if it is with the Red Sox. He has been linked to kind of not wanting to come to Boston, but with him we are World Series contenders. If he wants to pitch right now and pitch for a competitive team, the Red Sox might be the team for him. I am not getting my hopes up that he signs with us, but it is realistic still. Did someone show Roy the pictures of the new Spring Training stadium and the clubhouse? Maybe that will influence him to come here. In all seriousness, I just want him to make a decision already and either say yes or no to coming here. I just want closure. I have kind of forgot about Oswalt with Spring Training starting, but in the back of my mind I know he is still available as a free agent. I just want an answer.[/quote']

 

Bingo twice RSF3!!!! I want closure on this Oswalt thing too. With ST now in swing my concentration is on how the Red Sox are starting to shape up, but in the back of my mind the soap opera with this guy keeps going on. We will get an answer of some sort today. I just wonder what percentage chance there is that he would actually sign with us....maybe 10-20%.

[seabeachfred]

Heyman, like all the other beat writers, is guessing. I take what all those goons say with a grain of salt. No one but those very close to Oswalt know what he is going to do.

And frankly, at this point, with all the delays, I really don't care. Its time to move on.

 

You missed one point Pumpsie....maybe Oswalt himself doesn't know what he will do now that his options have been slammed shut. Maybe he will pick something out of a hat and be done with it. Despite what Cherington said, I just wonder if there is still some offer on the table at this time that maybe no one has heard about.

[a700hitter]

Either that or an announcement that he's taking the first half of the season off

Roy Oswalt May Sign Midseason

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 23 at 12:09pm CST]

 

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

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox should reach out to Oswalt toward the end of April. He'll be desperate to get out of the house. He will be missing the major league life and be looking for an excuse to get away from the family.

[SoxSport]

I think Oswalt has priced himself out of the market. Too picky.

[a700hitter]

I think Oswalt has priced himself out of the market. Too picky.

He'll be begging for any spot within 2 months. Too much family togetherness will have that effect.

[Bellhorn04]

He'll be begging for any spot within 2 months. Too much family togetherness will have that effect.

 

LOL how cynical...and probably accurate.

[a700hitter]

LOL how cynical...and probably accurate.

When Ryne Sandberg walked away from the game the first time, people applauded him for leaving while he was on top before his skills had slipped too badly. He retired to be spend more time with his family and work on his marriage, and he walked away from 2 years on his biggest contract (2yrs/$14 million). Everyone oohed and aahed that he was a man with such great integrity. At the time, people were shocked that I thought he was the biggest idiot in sports. In response, I made 2 predictions. First, that he would be divorced within a year and second that he would be back by the following spring begging to play for the Cubs or any team. What happened? His wife filed for divorce within 3 weeks of the announcement of his retirement, probably in reaction to his stupidity of walking away from $14 million. The following spring he was back for his job with the Cubs, but they only gave him $1 million. What a fool! Was I cynical? Sure was, but I was right. The last thing a troubled marriage needs is more togetherness.

[Elktonnick]

LOL how cynical...and probably accurate.

 

Several analysts opined that this was Oswalt's plan all along since neither the Rangers nor Cardinals wanted him now. The thinking is that he has only about 25 starts in him so better late in the year when injuries may force possible contenders like the Rangers and Cardinals to come calling. I would be really surprised to see him pitching for any ALE team.

[a700hitter]

Several analysts opined that this was Oswalt's plan all along since neither the Rangers nor Cardinals wanted him now. The thinking is that he has only about 25 starts in him so better late in the year when injuries may force possible contenders like the Rangers and Cardinals to come calling. I would be really surprised to see him pitching for any ALE team.

By June. he'll be pitching in the Independent League if no one comes calling.

[Bellhorn04]

When Ryne Sandberg walked away from the game the first time' date=' people applauded him for leaving while he was on top before his skills had slipped too badly. He retired to be spend more time with his family and work on his marriage, and he walked away from 2 years on his biggest contract (2yrs/$14 million). Everyone oohed and aahed that he was a man with such great integrity. At the time, people were shocked that I thought he was the biggest idiot in sports. In response, I made 2 predictions. First, that he would be divorced within a year and second that he would be back by the following spring begging to play for the Cubs or any team. What happened? His wife filed for divorce within 3 weeks of the announcement of his retirement, probably in reaction to his stupidity of walking away from $14 million. The following spring he was back for his job with the Cubs, but they only gave him $1 million. What a fool! Was I cynical? Sure was, but I was right. The last thing a troubled marriage needs is more togetherness.[/quote']

 

Well done...and I think you just gave some additional insight into why guys like Varitek and Wakefield hang on as long as they can...

[Muggah]

Several analysts opined that this was Oswalt's plan all along since neither the Rangers nor Cardinals wanted him now. The thinking is that he has only about 25 starts in him so better late in the year when injuries may force possible contenders like the Rangers and Cardinals to come calling. I would be really surprised to see him pitching for any ALE team.

 

It makes sense for him on a lot of levels. Actually a no-brainer when you look at his situation and what he's trying to do.

[SoxSport]

Heyman is one of the more reliable beat writers though. He seems to have a good inside connection' date=' I think it might be Boras.[/quote']

 

I watch these guys on mlb.com all the time. They are information peddlars. Where they get their info from, nobody knows. It's all a bunch of garbage. They just know a secretary in Selig's office or some GM's assistant--and they get first wind of trades ande dealings. That these guys are so well paid is an indication of how overblown the media has become with cable and internet.

[Elktonnick]

It makes sense for him on a lot of levels. Actually a no-brainer when you look at his situation and what he's trying to do.

 

Absolkutely, mlb radio predicted this was his strategy weeks ago.