Roy Oswalt requests to be traded

Houston Astros starting Pitcher Roy Oswalt has asked his ownership to be traded to a contender by the July 31st trade deadline. Roy would like to move on to a contender and has informed the Astros front office that he would waive his no trade clause if a deal can be worked out. The snag in all this is Oswalt struggled through 2009, but so far in 2010 he seems to have regained his form. The bigger snag here is the money he is owed. Oswalt will make 15 million this year, and 16 million in 2011. Any club who would want to add him will have to assume a big chunk of that money.

However, Oswalt has some pretty good numbers so far in 2010. His ERA is just 2.66, but his overall record is 2-6. That means that he is a pretty good pitcher, playing on a very bad baseball team. The Astros sit at 15-27 and have fallen behind division leading Cincinnati Reds by nine games. Oswalt has little desire to waste another season on a club still trying to find its way. He would much prefer to move onto a team that has a chance to help him earn a ring.

Considering that he is 33, and most likely his best days are behind him, a club that is on contention to win now might take a risk on him. A lot of people think the New York Mets would be interested but they might not have the money, and they cannot win now. I think the leading candidates here may be the Detroit Tigers. They could use another starting arm to help anchor the middle of their rotation, and Tigers owner Mike Illitch has been known to spend big bucks on older veterans.

Related Links:

•Houston Astros news and notes
•The Business of Major League Baseball
•MTR Baseball.com