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.
September 27, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Roy Oswalt (44) pitches in the game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Phillies beat the Braves 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE
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 4th or 5th 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 5th 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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Tags: Adam Wainwright, Carlos Beltran, Chris Carpenter, featured, Jake Westbrook, John Mozeliak, Kyle Lohse, Lance Berkman, popular, Redbird Rants, Roy Oswalt, St Louis Cardinals
Raised in the small town of Herculaneum, about 30 miles south of St. Louis in the heart of the Cardinal Nation, I left home at the age of 17 and joined the United States Marine Corps. I did a combat tour in Desert Storm. My wife has put up with me since '98. I have 3 beautiful children. I pro wrestled for 9 years, work for the federal government and coach high school football. I own a photography business and I have published a book. I love my family, Cardinal Baseball, a good cigar, a good beer, hats and life in general. I am pretty well covered in tattoos and plan on getting more.
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Well Put Dennis, “it is a manageable issue” . Even one of your co writers wrote a “tense situation” which I dont see, “manageable issue” is the best way I have seen it put !
This is a deal that should get done, Even though the Dallas Morning News reports he is talking to the Rangers today. St. Louis needs to be 6 deep, and I dont count Lynn or Rzepczynski as part of the 6.. Time to get it done..
One other note. all the news outlets are talking about Mo trading McClellan
For his 2.5M that he gets, I would NOT make a salary dump until I saw how spring was shaping up. If he is traded to make room for Roy, that could turn against us big time if someone gets hurt. If all shapes up well McClellan’s value might be higher then just a salary dump prior to opening day..
Very good article, it was like he was reading my mind.
to me, mcclellan’s value will never get any higher, he’s always been a lower to mediocre pitcher and nothing more. Far from an oswalt, even with oswalt at his point in his career.
@jcb071 are you serious, in 2010 he had a great year, he lead the league in Holds, he was one of league’s most durable middle relievers. Last year he got worn out due to over use. If he can reestablish him self in spring, he will definitely bring his value up, though value is not what Mo is looking for as much as he would like to get some value from him, Mo just wants to dumb salary to try for Oswalt. We shall see what happens very soon..
I don’t care about if the guys wornout, he blew plenty of games, otherwise he would have been on the nlcs and WS roster. You can have him, but I wouldn’t, I’d rather have a more established starter than any reliever and that’s all mcclellan is. He is mediocre at best and I don’t care how many holds he has, what u remember is the games he has blown and he it would have been ridiculous if they used him as a closer like they talked about cause he doesn’t have the velocity for such a task. He no different than ryan franklin was as a reliever, mediocre, franklin had one good year as a closer, but isn’t the prototypical closer. Mcclellan no different, actually, Mcclellan probably can hit better than he pitches, LOL.
@jcb071 What are you even talking about ? IF YOU READ my post I am in agreemnet with signing Roy, YOU obviously did not read my post !! all I said is McClellan can have higher value if they wait till spring to trade him. Your going off on tangents and just giving opinions without facts. Management NEVER considered McClellan for the closer role, I dont know where you got that.. Where talking about signing Roy O and McCellan”s value and you bring up Franklin and McCellan as a closer ???
your right, it’s my opinion, But I do hope they can trade mcclellan.
your right, I kind of got off on the wrong wavelength. Just would like to see the cards get oswalt and put westbrook in for long relief and lohse as the fifth starter. What a starting staff it would be and if someone got hurt they would have westbrook to fall back on to start worse case sceneario.
@jcb071 Hopefully by end of day or early tomorrow we shall see ! It makes since to trade him to clear up the money for Roy, I just hope that is NOT a deal breaker. McCellans 2.5M is exactly the difference they are off so far according to many of the beat reporters, I just think they should sign him and be done with it ! Deal with McCellan anytime later or see what happens at camp, though I think Mo is banking on a trade before they sign Roy. We will see hopefully tonight, TUNE into MLB Hot Stove,
What is so bad about 6 starters? This would not be the first time and there should be money left in the coffers for one last All Star!
@jcb071 Bingo, I think thats what there looking at, though it will come at McClellns expense. Which I know by now you like
@RonCassoni There is nothing wrong with 6 starters, though someone has to go to the pen. You sure are not going to go to a 6 man rotation, not with the likes of Carp and Waino, though Rob Rains made a real good argument on a 6 man rotation, I just dont see it.. As for there money, Its spent. Thats the reason for trading Mac, they need to clear payroll and they have the extra arm.. IF they sign Roy, they are done. Chance’s of even having much left for mid season is null. Beltran is getting most of Alberts last years salary, With the added amount to Furcal and arbitration cases they settled there is not much left if any.. But I would really like to see 6 starters to start this season..
@johnwvideo @RonCassoni I would also, 6 starters might just give them more wins apiece since they are very well rested and the teams they face don’t get to see them each every time. The Money boys would make it up in sales and sell outs given all these Aces. And I don’t want to trade anyone since someone always gets hurt along the way.
@RonCassoni I hear you about someone getting hurt, thats why I dont think anymove should be done until they see what happens at camp, BUT its not so easy, someone has to go, via trade or back to the minors, there is no room on the roster if they bring on Roy. Many of the arms in the BP are out of options, so it would most likely be Sanchez they would have to send down, and I dont think they want to do that.
Think of it like Tyler Green, if he does not make the team they have to let him go, he is out of options, so he cant go back to the minors. I dont know exactly how many are left for Lynn, Salas and Sanchez, but the rest are all out of options. Thats why I said it would be Sanchez going down, and I dont see that, if they can trade Mac for some prospect and much needed money to pay Roy .I hope that makes since.
@johnwvideo Yep I’m with you I’d sign him and takem all to spring training and go from there. There is always interest in good pitching.
I had to come back to this read. Wonder if you guys heard anything, something should have been done by now, unless Texas made an offer that he has to really think about, I would hate to think trading Mac FIRST is what it will take to get this done.. They can always make a trade during spring.. Or they might find that actually need Mac due to an injury to someone..
I’d rather keep our excellent and most experienced set-up man in McClellan (who should be just fine once back in the bullpen full-time) and have money available for possible improvements in mid-season than go after a luxury like Oswalt.
@jcb071
The prototypical closer is highly overrated. Franklin did very well as the closer for 2 years (and as our set-up man in 2007) before he somehow lost it completely last year. McClellan was one of our best relievers from 2008-2010 and probably would’ve turned into a pretty good closer if Wainwright hadn’t gotten hurt and therefore left McClellan in the bullpen when Franklin failed. He just suffered from an innings overload and being shuffled back to the bullpen after spending 4 months in the starting rotation. I trust him to bounce back before I trust all 3 bullpen rookies from last year (Salas, Sanchez, and Lynn) to avoid “sophomore slumps.”
@mdenton84 Not me, mcclellan will be just a waste to keep around, when having a top rated starter is worth getting, during the trade deadline more than likely a top rated starter like a matt cain or someone like that won’t be traded, if I know the cards and that I do, they look for the bargain price and hardly ever upgrade, they mostly replace a player.
@mdenton84I don’t go for that excuse of innings overload, pitchers in the 80′s never worried about innings nor pitches and did exceptionally well, its time to go back to those times. mcclellan is no and never would be a closer in my book, I would never ever trust him over salas, sanchez or lynn by any chance. those three were tremendous and could all close one day, mcclellan is just a mediocre pitcher.
@jcb071 Those pitchers in the 80s threw those innings every year. McClellan set a massive career high in innings last year. It’s the same reasoning as to why rookie starters are often shut down in September. Also, McClellan has proved for 4 years that he’s much better than just a “mediocre pitcher.”
@jcb071 Who says a starting pitcher is what we’ll need at the deadline? Maybe we’ll need a middle infielder or something completely unexpected. Even if we do need a starter, we probably wouldn’t need someone as good as Matt Cain.