MLB Free Agency: Yankees Should Take Chance on Roy Oswalt After Lowering Demands
December 20, 2011 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
When I talk about the Yankees’ need for starting pitching before the 2012 season, I feel like a broken record.
I can’t count how many stories I’ve done since the 2011 season ended stating again and again how much the Yankees need to make a move for their rotation.
They wisely passed on C.J. Wilson and Mark Buehrle, not over-spending on long-term contracts.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has also been very hesitant to make a deal for a starter because the asking price in return has been way too much.
So for now, the Yankees have pretty much the same rotation for 2012 as they did in 2011.
This needs to change. They need to make a move, because I am taking Cashman at his word when he stated that the biggest priority was pitching.
The Yankees didn’t make much of an effort in the Yu Darvish bidding, putting in a bid of less than $20 million for the Japanese right-hander, who ended up being won by the Texas Rangers for a bid of $51.7 million.
So the Yankees aren’t going that route.
Now, for about a week, it looked like the Yankees might pursue former Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda, but according to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, Kuroda is nearing a deal with an unknown team and it is not the Yankees.
So the options are getting thin. But with the recent developments, I think one might be an obvious choice.
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, former Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt is lowering his demands from a three-year deal and would be willing to accept a one-year deal for 2012.
It’s a smart move by Oswalt, who had an off-year in 2011, going 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in just 23 starts. He was also limited due to back problems.
If he is willing to accept a one-year deal, I think the Yankees need to jump all over this and get Oswalt for 2012.
It’s a big risk to bring Oswalt to New York given he had the back issue last year. But it’s also a high-reward type of deal that could benefit the Yankees, given Oswalt’s track record in the past.
According to Andrew Marchand of ESPN, the Yankees are still not interested in Oswalt, despite him lowering his demands for a contract.
Cashman needs to change his tune and mind on this, because Oswalt would be the perfect option for the Yankees in either the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the Yankees’ rotation, especially if he can stay healthy.
I, like Cashman, was in favor of not bringing in Oswalt when free agency started. But my tune is changing.
I think he would be a great option, especially considering that his signing wouldn’t block Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances from being called up to the majors with any long-term deal.
Plus, on a one-year deal, Oswalt will be looking to re-establish himself in 2012 and try to get a better contract for 2013.
Nothing motivates players more than a contract year.
I really hope the Yankees make a move for Oswalt for 2012. Lets hope Cashman feels the same way too.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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