With the Boston Red Sox in the process of completing their deal of SS Marco Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies, the focus is on what the team plans to do with the payroll dollars they have saved. The Red Sox are known to have been on a budget and adding extra payroll is not an option. So, with the Rockies agreeing to take on Scutaro's entire 2012 salary, it is pretty obvious that Boston plans to use the saved money to improve the team in another way. The most sensible move would be to add a starting pitcher and its not surprising to see them currently in negotiations with RHP Roy Oswalt.
Oswalt seems a logical fit for the Red Sox, who have not had as aggressive an offseason as they have had in recent seasons. They have made two upgrades to their bullpen, adding RHPs Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon to sure up the back of their bullpen. Of course, that came after they lost free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Philadelphia Phillies. It seemed the team would be a little more active after manager Terry Francona resigned and General Manager Theo Epstein left the Red Sox for the Cubs after a colossal collapse at the end of the 2011 season. Oswalt will, without a doubt, provide some of the necessary depth the team's starting rotation lacked at the end of last season. With Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz expected to anchor the rotation, Oswalt provides stability and leaves either Daniel Bard or Aaron Cook to round out the rotation as Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey recover from injuries.
Oswalt would come in with a 159-93 record and a 3.31 ERA over his 11 year career. Though he had a down 2011 season where he was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA for the Phillies, he should be as healthy as ever. In 2010, he was 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA after being acquired from the Astros from Philadelphia. Healthy as he is, he is expected to be closer to the 2010 version than the 2011. And similarly, he will excel staying low key being in a rotation with Lester, Beckett and Buchholz just like he hid with Halladay and Hamels when the Phillies traded for him.
If the Red Sox are done after the Oswalt signing, it could be considered a decent offseason for them, though it has been one of their more quiet ones, player wise. Of course, it has been a very busy offseason for the front office, manager and coaching staff, all of whom look very different. With Oswalt, and a potential change in the clubhouse, the Red Sox should be right there with the New York Yankees in the American League East. The only thing that will hold them back is their attitude, and thats something I am sure Bobby Valentine is going to be able to handle and change.
Oswalt seems a logical fit for the Red Sox, who have not had as aggressive an offseason as they have had in recent seasons. They have made two upgrades to their bullpen, adding RHPs Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon to sure up the back of their bullpen. Of course, that came after they lost free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Philadelphia Phillies. It seemed the team would be a little more active after manager Terry Francona resigned and General Manager Theo Epstein left the Red Sox for the Cubs after a colossal collapse at the end of the 2011 season. Oswalt will, without a doubt, provide some of the necessary depth the team's starting rotation lacked at the end of last season. With Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz expected to anchor the rotation, Oswalt provides stability and leaves either Daniel Bard or Aaron Cook to round out the rotation as Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey recover from injuries.
Oswalt would come in with a 159-93 record and a 3.31 ERA over his 11 year career. Though he had a down 2011 season where he was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA for the Phillies, he should be as healthy as ever. In 2010, he was 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA after being acquired from the Astros from Philadelphia. Healthy as he is, he is expected to be closer to the 2010 version than the 2011. And similarly, he will excel staying low key being in a rotation with Lester, Beckett and Buchholz just like he hid with Halladay and Hamels when the Phillies traded for him.
If the Red Sox are done after the Oswalt signing, it could be considered a decent offseason for them, though it has been one of their more quiet ones, player wise. Of course, it has been a very busy offseason for the front office, manager and coaching staff, all of whom look very different. With Oswalt, and a potential change in the clubhouse, the Red Sox should be right there with the New York Yankees in the American League East. The only thing that will hold them back is their attitude, and thats something I am sure Bobby Valentine is going to be able to handle and change.
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