Is Oswalt worth the risk?
The Phillies announced that they have declined the 2012 options for starter RHP Roy Oswalt and reliever RHP Brad Lidge. Instead of a $16MM option, Oswalt was bought out for $2MM, while Lidge received a $1.5MM buyout instead of a $12.5MM option.
The Phillies haven’t ruled out re-signing either pitcher, but if they are available, it wouldn’t hurt Sandy Alderson and his brain trust to kick the tires on both of them.
Talk had already circulated about Lidge, given the Mets void at closer. No one is going to pay him close to what would have been his 2012 salary given his recent injuries. He returned from rotator cuff surgery in 2011 and logged only 19.1 innings in 25 appearances. He was mostly effective, posting a 1.40 ERA and 23 strikeouts. However, his 13 BBs ballooned his WHIP to 1.50. If those numbers continue into 2012, you can expect lots of tightrope acts in the ninth inning, should he take on the closer role. He could also be used as a veteran eighth inning presence who can step in if the likes of Manny Acosta or Bobby Parnell falter in the closer’s role.
So, there are two key questions about Lidge that make him a risk: Will his shoulder last a full season, and can he be consistent enough to be the Mets’ closer or set-up man? But those risks will make him more affordable to a Mets team that’s hunting for bargains. Signing Lidge would be akin to last year’s signing of Chris Young.
Roy Oswalt is worth a look as well. He missed some time with back issues in 2011, but has averaged just under 200 innings per year in his career. Despite his injuries, his asking price will probably be a bit steep for the Mets at this point. If he remains a free agent until the latter part of the offseason, his price tag may drop enough to sign him. The Mets will also have to consider the fact that he is still a Type A free agent, who are hard to sign when you’re trying to rebuild your farm system from the draft up.
So, two more options for the front office to kick around. They’re not perfect, but the Mets will have to get creative this winter.
17 comments
Bryan
10/25/2011-1:33am at 1:33 am (UTC -4)
If Lidge comes cheap, he should be considered. I like the comparison to Young. No way you go after Oswalt. Being a type A free agent makes him not worth it. I don’t think his health holds up at all.
Anonymous
10/25/2011-2:05am at 2:05 am (UTC -4)
wonder if they are going to offer either guy arbitration? Could end up paying just as much in salary, since they likely get less on the open market than they would in arbitration.
Maybe Lidge on a make-good type deal, just to tide them over for a year?
oswalt is interesting. wonder what kind of offers he is going to get?
Anonymous
10/25/2011-4:49am at 4:49 am (UTC -4)
We will see. I for one do not believe he has much left in the tank, at any rate he is definitely not the elite starter he had once been so perhaps that salary will not be too high, yet again starting pitching is a valuable commodity in this market and a veteran presence like oswalt may fetch a hefty salary for an over the hill pitcher.
MetsFan4Decades
10/25/2011-2:27am at 2:27 am (UTC -4)
Lidge? I think he’s had more surgeries than he’s had years pitching. That arm/shoulder is held together with chewing gum and staples. I’d pass on him.
I’m not too high on Oswalt either, for the same reason. He was actually making noise early last season about retiring as he didn’t know if that back problem would ever let up enough to pitch effectively. I’d kick the tires on him if he was cheap enough but something tells me, he won’t be. I certainly wouldn’t give him more than one year though.
Paul J. Festa
10/25/2011-2:39am at 2:39 am (UTC -4)
I’m truly LOLing at his arm being held together by chewing gum and staples! That may not be far from the truth…
MetsFan4Decades
10/25/2011-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
Nice bump on metsblog, Paul.
Paul Festa
10/25/2011-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks!
TRS86
10/25/2011-3:47am at 3:47 am (UTC -4)
Type a or b does not matter for either. They are not being offered arbitration. Also no way does Lidge setup Acosta or Parnell.
Anonymous
10/25/2011-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
yeah, I had the same thought about arbitration. Both could easily accept it, and get paid well more than the Phils want to.
Lidge can’t possibly be a type A I would not imagine. Oswalt, he probably is though. And I would guess, going back to Texas? But who knows.
metfan
10/25/2011-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
Yankees? Doesn’t Oswalt fit the Yankees?
Anonymous
10/25/2011-10:40pm at 10:40 pm (UTC -4)
almost but not quite old enough.
Fpchetti
10/25/2011-5:05pm at 5:05 pm (UTC -4)
Met starters were not that bad in 2010…Their problem was, and is, relieversw. Lidge is worth a shot. If Carrasco could get a 2 yr. contract, and provide very little, why not 1 yr. for Lidge?
Anonymous
10/25/2011-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
and pens often yoyo year to year. so a couple of shrewd moves/lucky breaks, and maybe they can piece a decent one together.
would also help to have some SPs go deep on a regular basis.
Pegent
10/25/2011-8:44pm at 8:44 pm (UTC -4)
Mets starters were not that bad in 2010; however, they were bad in 2011 other than Dickey.
Anonymous
10/25/2011-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
so what you are saying is, there is no place to go but up?
viper99
10/26/2011-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
Mets first draft pick is protected so this is a good time to sign a type A player if we need it.
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