Roy Oswalt?

[Invader3K]

I really wish there was a rule that a player had to be signed by May 1st or something in order to be eligible for the post-season. I got so sick of Roger Clemens' pulling that stuff in his last few seasons.

[RockCoCougars]

I really wish there was a rule that a player had to be signed by May 1st or something in order to be eligible for the post-season. I got so sick of Roger Clemens' pulling that stuff in his last few seasons.

 

Agreed. I hate ring 'harlots' with a passion, in any sport.

[DatHoser]

I really wish there was a rule that a player had to be signed by May 1st or something in order to be eligible for the post-season. I got so sick of Roger Clemens' pulling that stuff in his last few seasons.

 

Agreed. I hate ring 'harlots' with a passion, in any sport.

 

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/DatHoser/Gollum.jpg

[RockCoCougars]

Good one. Someone should Photoshop the face of Deion Sanders, Roger Clemens, etc. onto the photo above.

[CheezWizHed]

Wade, Lebron, and Bosch too... except they didn't get one last year

[monty57]

Would you guys hate this so much if the Brewers were in first place, lost a starting pitcher in July and were able to sign a rested Oswalt for the playoff run?

 

If a player knows that he can no longer stand up to the strain of starting all season, but when rested can dominate, and a team is willing to pay him for a half-season's work, then I'm all for the player doing it. He's losing out on half a season's pay, so there's no way a pitcher would do it if he didn't feel he had to.

[RockCoCougars]

Would you guys hate this so much if the Brewers were in first place, lost a starting pitcher in July and were able to sign a rested Oswalt for the playoff run?

 

If a player knows that he can no longer stand up to the strain of starting all season, but when rested can dominate, and a team is willing to pay him for a half-season's work, then I'm all for the player doing it. He's losing out on half a season's pay, so there's no way a pitcher would do it if he didn't feel he had to.

 

I'm not really sure that Oswalt is worth what he would demand at this point in his career considering his age and back issues. Especially if he were to miss half the season. If he came with Clemen-esque prima-donna demands (I'm only with the team when I pitch, only pitch at home, etc.), I'd say no way. He wasn't very good last year relatively speaking, certainly not dominant- baserunners were way up and strikeouts were way down from his career norms. I'm not sure he'd be that much an upgrade over what they have unless someone gets hurt.

[monty57]

I wouldn't think about signing him unless someone got hurt, but if he wanted $5MM or so for half a season, they liked what they saw when the watched him throw and the medical staff cleared him, I'd definitely think about it.

 

He actually seemed to pitch better in the 2nd half of the season last year, but for the season he posted a 3.69 ERA, with around a 3:1 K:BB ratio. Of course, the Brewers may not have an extra $5MM or so to spend, but Oswalt could be a savior if the Brewers were leading the division and then had some SP injuries. That would sure beat the Cardinals signing him in a tight race.

[jerichoholicninja]

He did have back issues for the first half of last year so that might explain why his second half was better. If he's healed now he could be close what he once was.

[RockCoCougars]

My money is still on him with the Cardinals at some point, hopefully because they are having issues with their rotation.

[CheezWizHed]

If a player knows that he can no longer stand up to the strain of starting all season, but when rested can dominate, and a team is willing to pay him for a half-season's work, then I'm all for the player doing it.

 

Would you please stop interrupting our ranting with logic!

[rickh150]

If deemed healthy, it would make sense for the Brew to sign him to a two year deal so they have some insurance in case Greinke, Marcum, and Wolf don't come back. Do it for now AND next year.

[brewmann04]

i agree this will also allow for Estrada to move back to the Pen and solidify that area,even though have to like what Estrada did Sat.

[PrinceEatMeat]

And where will they get the money for this? Payroll is maxed out and then some. Not happening.

[HiAndTight]

And where will they get the money for this? Payroll is maxed out and then some. Not happening.

 

 

Payroll NOT maxed out as Melvin recently stated, and they're coming off a year in which they made nearly 20 million dollars, are looking at an additional 20 in TV revenue, are well ahead of last years pace as far as attendance goes and that's with an increase in ticket prices and parking costs.

 

The Brewers constantly talk about being maxed out and it seems every time they end up with a very solid net revenue, and at the point we're at right now, we've got more money to spend than we've had in a long time.

 

I have to say I also hate the "not gonna happen," comment. I argued that we may potentially trade for K-Rod and sign Aram in the last year and was told the exact same things.

[JohnBriggs12]

I wouldn't make a move on Oswalt just yet. Narveson's going down gives them an opportunity to see what they have in Estrada as a starting pitcher. As has been pointed out, they are going to have openings in the rotation next year. If they signed Greinke, that's going to take up a huge financial commitment. They are going to need to have starters around him and Gallardo making pre arby salaries in order to properly balance the payroll. Hopefully, at least one of the young guys is ready and then you can have Estrada, and Narveson if he recovers, hold the spots for the Bradleys, Thornburgs, that won't be far behind.

[TooLiveBrew]

Didn't Oswalt say he only wants to play near-ish to where he lives? I thought earlier in this thread the idea of him to the Brewers was basically squashed with that.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yep, Oswalt really only wants to play for St. Louis or Texas at this point. He said that all along. I don't see him signing anywhere else. It's just not a smart move from the Brewers standpoint either, mainly due to where the price will go. I'd rather give Estrada or a young pitcher like Peralta a shot than go with Oswalt. There's a point where you need to see what you have for next season. Signing Oswalt for anything beyond this season would also basically end talks of re-signing Greinke. I just don't see it as a Melvin type move to throw millions of dollars at a veteran starter mid-season. Especially when Oswalt has looked less than sharp last season. And HiAndTight, I have no idea who told you signing Ramirez wasn't going to happen. He had interest in the Brewers all along. The odds seemed pretty good of that happening. The K-Rod trade came out of nowhere in a sense, but again it's not like he was out there for a high price. Signing Oswalt just isn't something that Melvin will do. There have been no rumors of it, and Oswalt doesn't have interest in playing here.

[Invader3K]

I would think the fact that we are contending again might sway Oswalt. That said, I'm not completely sold on the idea. It might be better to wait a while and make sure other needs don't come up. We might need that money to trade for an expensive position player mid-season.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I would think the fact that we are contending again might sway Oswalt. That said, I'm not completely sold on the idea. It might be better to wait a while and make sure other needs don't come up. We might need that money to trade for an expensive position player mid-season.

 

That's a good point. Can't afford to put all of our eggs in one basket. Never know what could happen. I don't see 5th starter as big enough of a need at this point. It could become a need, but that remains to be seen.

[HiAndTight]

Yep, Oswalt really only wants to play for St. Louis or Texas at this point. He said that all along. I don't see him signing anywhere else. It's just not a smart move from the Brewers standpoint either, mainly due to where the price will go. I'd rather give Estrada or a young pitcher like Peralta a shot than go with Oswalt. There's a point where you need to see what you have for next season. Signing Oswalt for anything beyond this season would also basically end talks of re-signing Greinke. I just don't see it as a Melvin type move to throw millions of dollars at a veteran starter mid-season. Especially when Oswalt has looked less than sharp last season. And HiAndTight, I have no idea who told you signing Ramirez wasn't going to happen. He had interest in the Brewers all along. The odds seemed pretty good of that happening. The K-Rod trade came out of nowhere in a sense, but again it's not like he was out there for a high price. Signing Oswalt just isn't something that Melvin will do. There have been no rumors of it, and Oswalt doesn't have interest in playing here.

 

 

Both were LITERAL quotes from Trwi when the idea of trading for K-Rod came up last year a couple months into the season, and with regard to Aram, it came during last trade deadline when it was suggested the Brewers may target him if he was willing to sign for 10-12 million.

No you have an "idea."

So...the whole, "not gonna happen," nonsense is just that. Nonsense. It may well be unlikely, but but things change. If we're 3 up in a month and someone goes down, while it may be unlikely, it's certainly not impossible that we go after Oswalt. Especially since I see little need for Texas, and if Oswalt at that time looks at the Brewers as a more viable contender with his addition, it's possible.

 

It's just this declaration of what will and won't happen on this board that's taken as fact that's a bit ridiculous at times. FF to June 1st. Carpenter's nerve injury has him out for the year, Waino is still struggling, Lohse has come down to Earth, they're struggling as a team(or they suffer other injuries as they're littered with players who have a high risk of injury as their core pieces offensively in Furcal, Berkman, Freese, Holliday as well as Lohse, Carp, Waino...).

 

See...Brewers lose Yo/Greinke for an extended period of time when they're up a few games in the Central, the Cards stumble and lose a couple of key pieces, none of which is the least bit far fetched, and the Brewers offer him 5 million for the second half....

[HiAndTight]

I would think the fact that we are contending again might sway Oswalt. That said, I'm not completely sold on the idea. It might be better to wait a while and make sure other needs don't come up. We might need that money to trade for an expensive position player mid-season.

 

That's a good point. Can't afford to put all of our eggs in one basket. Never know what could happen. I don't see 5th starter as big enough of a need at this point. It could become a need, but that remains to be seen.

 

Agreed. It's unlikely and where we are right now, those resources would be best served elsewhere.

 

But Oswalt, despite a decline last year, would have the benefit of not pitching in Philly, one would imagine be healthier, and would be in a Clemens/Pedro type role, perhaps the best way to use him.

 

So I highly doubt it'll happen myself. I'm just not going to close the door on it as though it's an absolute fact.

[HiAndTight]

Didn't Oswalt say he only wants to play near-ish to where he lives? I thought earlier in this thread the idea of him to the Brewers was basically squashed with that.

 

 

Sentiments also echoed before he approved the trade to the Phillies.

[monty57]

Maybe Melvin could sweeten the deal with some Wisconsin farmland or a shiny new vehicle from Oshkosh Truck

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2265422

 

Seriously, if Oswalt can still pitch, he could be a possibility later this season. I doubt we'll want to spend the money (or if we even have the money to spend), but anything can happen, so it's not out of the picture that we'd sign Oswalt for the second half of the season. If Oswalt's healthy, it would be like making a big mid-season trade without giving up any talent in return.

 

With the Narveson injury, we could be heading into next season with only one returning starting pitcher, which could really make this an "all in" year. If that's the case, I could see Melvin/Attanasio emptying the coffers to do everything they can to win in 2012.

[RockCoCougars]

I don't really have any interest in Oswalt. He doesn't seem to want to play unless it is under his terms, he's older with back issues, and he really wasn't very good last year. Unless he's been 'training' with his old teammate Clemens (who used to also play the waiting game), I don't think he will be all that good pitching rusty. All that said, I still say that he will be in a Cardinal uniform before the season is over.