It is time to make Oswalt a Cardinal

The St. Louis Cardinals need to sign Roy Oswalt, end of story.  The rumors of Oswalt wanting to become a Cardinal resurfaced again this off-season.  Where there is that much smoke, there must be some fire somewhere.  This is regardless what the front office and John Mozeliak are saying.  These same type of rumors swirled around Oswalt and the Cardinals a few years back and we didn’t make it happen.  These rumors have taken on a new life once again.  I am not sure what the delay is competing this signing or why there is always a denial when this topic is brought up.

Oswalt has expressed in the past that he wants to be a Cardinal and he wants to pitch in St. Louis.  Why are we not giving him what he asks?  There are a few small roadblocks that keep being mentioned.  These roadblocks may be bumps in the road but I don’t think they should be dead ends by any means.

The health of Oswalt has been brought into question.  How is his back?  How many innings is he going to give you in a season?  I think Oswalt still has some in the tanks and I think he could give you a decent amount of innings in a season.  No, he is not going to go out and throw like he did in his glory days in Houston when he was slaying the Cardinals and really anyone else he faced.  I also believe the type of competitor that Oswalt is, if he didn’t have it left in him, he wouldn’t put himself out there.  There are those that feel he could go out throw a pitch and his back would be done.  Maybe.  But, who doesn’t hold their breath every time Chris Carpenter flinches or cringes.  Carp’s health is always a question.  I think he is still a machine and one of the best in the game, but he is also one of those guys that could be one pitch away from being done.  When Adam Wainright comes back how is he going to feel?

Where would we put him?  I think that is an easy one.  He goes in the rotation.  He becomes that 4^th or 5^th starter.  I think Jake Westbrook is moved to the bullpen.  If Oswalt would run into a health issue as the season goes on then Westbrook could step back in to the rotation.  In my personal opinion, I would much rather take my chance with Oswalt every 5^th start than Westbrook.  The no trade clauses that Kyle Lohse and Westbrook have do make things interesting, but I think it is a manageable issue.  I would always take the problem of too many pitchers versus the alternative of where are we going to find someone to throw today.  The rumors that Kyle McClellan could be on the trade table to make room have also begun to swirl.  This is also a resolution if the club is worried about having too much pitching.

Oswalt has been rumored to have agreed to fair price for a year in St. Louis and rejecting higher priced offers with other clubs. Roy Oswalt wants to be a Cardinal.  I think it is time to give him what he is asking for.  Just think if this goes through, the former Cardinal killers that would be on the team – Oswalt, Berkman and Beltran.

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