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Roy Oswalt News & Rumors

Roy Oswalt unlikely for Sox; Bobby Valentine content
February 9
Boston Herald
 
"Less than two weeks before the start of spring training, Roy Oswalt still needs a job and the Red Sox could use another starting pitcher. Perfect match, right? Not according to one major league source, who said yesterday there has been "no sense of progress" in any conversations between the Red Sox and Oswalt's camp. That was consistent with general manager Ben Cherington's recent characterization that it's "unlikely" another starter will be acquired before spring training. So what you see with the Red Sox seems to be what you'll get. When camp opens Feb.?19, the rotation will consist of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz and a bunch of questions, from whether Daniel Bard and Alfredo"
Starting pitchers Oswalt, Jackson spurn interest from Pirates
February 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Even a chunk of cash as large as $10 million will not buy the Pirates an upper-tier free agent unless that player wants to play in Pittsburgh. According to multiple industry sources, the Pirates in recent days engaged in serious, detailed discussions with the agents for pitchers Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson. In both cases, however, talks were derailed when the player said he'd rather play elsewhere. Jackson accepted a one-year, $10 million contract Thursday from the Washington Nationals. The Pirates had offered the right-hander one- and three-year deals for slightly less money per year. Oswalt is still on the market, and reportedly is seeking a one-year contract for around $10 million. The"
Oswalt return? Doubtful
February 7
CSN Philly
 
"There was a report over the weekend that indicated the Phillies were still in the running to re-sign free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt. While we'd never put anything past general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. – not after he and assistant GM Scott Proefrock's stealth pursuit and signing of Cliff Lee 14 months ago – Oswalt and the Phillies just don't seem to be a fit."
Could Red Sox, Reds or Phillies land Oswalt?
February 5
Foxsports.com
 
"Roy Oswalt is without a contract two weeks before the start of spring workouts. And he is scrambling. Oswalt is known to prefer a team close to his Mississippi home, but his top choices – the Texas Rangers or St. Louis Cardinals – may not have enough money left in their budgets and/or room in their rotations to sign him. That has allowed a number of suitors to remain in contact with Oswalt. The Red Sox, Reds and Phillies are among them, according to major-league sources. Because Oswalt is the "last man standing" among the upper-tier pitching free agents, so to speak, new clubs could emerge. That is particularly the case if they believe they can sign him at a discounted rate."
Rangers' brass tight-lipped after meeting with Roy Oswalt
January 31
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Rangers' meeting with free-agent righthander Roy Oswalt on Monday produced no sign of ground-breaking developments. General manager Jon Daniels, who previously said he was "intrigued" by Oswalt, declined to comment. Bob Garber, who represents Oswalt, said the parties "had a very good meeting" but declined further comment. It was not known if the Rangers made a specific contract proposal. St. Louis has offered a one-year deal that includes a relatively low base salary with incentives."
Report: RHP Roy Oswalt seeking $10 million contract
January 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"Roy Oswalt might not come as cheap as originally thought. According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi , Oswalt and the St. Louis Cardinals had discussed a one-year deal worth $7.5 million, but Oswalt is holding out for an eight-figure payday, hoping someone will up the ante to $10 million."
Rangers scheduled to meet with Roy Oswalt on Monday
January 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"Righthander Roy Oswalt is scheduled to meet with the Rangers on Monday. Boston, St. Louis and Houston are also involved in the Oswalt sweepstakes. The Rangers have not made an offer, a person familiar with the situation said. The Rangers met with another prominent free agent, first baseman Prince Fielder, on Jan. 13. That led to an offer, but Detroit surpassed the Rangers."
Cards closing in on Roy Oswalt?
January 28
ESPN.com
 
"Free-agent pitcher Roy Oswalt has elected to remain in the National League and is likely to sign with theSt. Louis Cardinals "soon," a major league source said late Friday night. Presumably, any agreement would be pending a physical for Oswalt, who has a history of back problems. "It's not yet 100 percent," the source said. Oswalt, one of the last of the big-name free agents still on the market, had been ardently pursued by the Boston Red Sox, among others. Another team reportedly in the mix for Oswalt was the Texas Rangers, while CBSSports.com reported late Friday night that Oswalt had rejected an offer from the Detroit Tigers."
Report: Rangers front office debating over need for Roy Oswalt
January 27
Dallas Morning News
 
"Roy Oswalt apparently wants to pitch for the Texas Rangers. But do the Rangers want Roy Oswalt? According to a tweet by ESPN's Jerry Crasnick on Thursday, there is some debate in the Rangers' front office as to the club's need for Oswalt given the surplus of starting pitching the team already seems to have. The Rangers currently have four starters from last year's rotation on the roster: Derek Holland, Colby Lewis , Matt Harrison and Alexi Ogando. But with the signing of Yu Darvish and the move of Neftali Feliz into a starting role, the club now has six starters for five spots, a fact that will likely push Ogando back into the bullpen."
Report: Free agent Roy Oswalt wants to pitch for either Rangers or Cardinals
January 26
Dallas Morning News
 
"Just a day after the Rangers officially missed out on Prince Fielder, the club found its name linked to another high-profile free agent. Three-time All-Star Roy Oswalt wants to play for either the Rangers or the St. Louis Cardinals next year, according to a report for Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. "The Rangers, in the view of some executives, are the favorites to land Oswalt, even though they already have six starting pitchers, including right-hander Alexi Ogando, who could move to the bullpen," Rosenthal wrote."
Free agent Roy Oswalt turns down Tigers
January 24
CSN Philly
 
"Roy Oswalt continues to wait. According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (via HardballTalk) Roy Oswalt "did not want to go to Detroit" to play for the Tigers. The Detroit Tigers were "very interested" in Oswalt, even going as far as to have ace Justin Verlander call Oswalt, said Knobler. Presumably, Oswalt is waiting for the call from the Boston Red Sox."
Tigers pursuing Johnny Damon, Roy Oswalt in free agency
January 23
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Tigers are pursuing Johnny Damon to fill the void left by Victor Martinez's knee injury, Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reported on Sunday. "And they should," he said. "He can hit in a number of lineup spots, which suits them well because Jim Leyland is still sorting through a number of lineup options." Damon, 38, is a career .286 hitter over 17 major league seasons and hit .271 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases in 145 games with the Tigers in 2010."
Sox swap Scutaro ... for Oswalt?
January 22
ESPN.com
 
"Here is the question Boston Red Sox fans should be asking themselves: Would you trade Marco Scutaro straight up for Roy Oswalt? My guess is that many of you would say yes. I'm inclined to join you, and soon -- perhaps within days -- it will be clear that Ben Cherington agrees with you. That was what Saturday night's trade of Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies was all about. Just a couple of days ago, Cherington mentioned that he considered exercising Scutaro's $6 million option for the 2012 season a "significant acquisition," likening the late-October decision to signing a free agent. Now, a couple of months later, Cherington has decided that money will be better spent elsewhere. He shipped"
Roy Oswalt on Rangers' radar; Ryan optimistic Darvish will sign
January 13
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Rangers could add two more starting pitchers. As what team president Nolan Ryan labeled promising negotiations with Japanese righthander Yu Darvish continue, the Rangers have also made inquiries about veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt, according to a major league official. Bob Garber, who represents Oswalt, declined to comment Thursday. Garber was attending the Rangers awards show at the Arlington Convention Center. Another client, outfielder Craig Gentry, received the Rangers rookie-of-the-year award."
Cardinals downplaying interest in Oswalt
January 5
CSN Philly
 
"According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals' interest in Roy Oswalt is being downplayed. This is not exactly shocking news considering that the Cardinals already have Kyle Lohse, Chris Carpenter, Jamie Garcia as a their top three starters, with Jake Westbrook and Kyle McClellan available as starters too. Not to mention one huge addition to the rotation a healthy Adam Wainwright."
Seven teams interested in Oswalt for one year
December 22
CSN Philly
 
"There is a good chance that Roy Oswalt finds himself back in the NL East in 2012. Seven teams, including two from the Phils' division, are interested in the 34-year-old righty, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman points out that three of those seven teams are longshots. The Rangers don't have rotation spots open and may not be able to afford Oswalt after spending more than $50 million to win the rights to Yu Darvish. The Yankees seem more interested in free agent Hiroki Kuroda and trade target Jair Jurrjens. And the Twins may lack the resources. That leaves the Marlins, Nationals, Red Sox and Blue Jays as realistic landing spots."
One year of Roy Oswalt fits in with Sox' plan
December 21
Boston Herald
 
"Roy Oswalt wants one year to prove he's worth a big free agent contract. Boston would be the perfect place to do it. With the Red Sox in need of starting help, but not wanting to commit big money to 2013 because of the luxury tax implications, there's no better fit on the market than Oswalt. The 34-year-old right-hander is exactly what the Red Sox need. He's a proven veteran with an extensive track record and a history of big-game experience."
Phillies didn't offer Roy Oswalt arbitration, which matters for Nationals
November 26
Washington Post
 
"We're catching up on a piece of news that's small but potentially important for the Nationals. On Wednesday, the Phillies did not offer right-handed starter Roy Oswalt arbitration. The decision ensured Oswalt will be a more valuable commodity on the free agent market and could have a possible effect on the Nationals. Since Oswalt is a Type A free agent, the Phillies would have received a first-round draft pick from the team that signed Oswalt had they offered him arbitration. But Philadelphia decided it did not want to risk paying Oswalt the one-year salary it would have owed him — about $17 million — if he accepted an arbitration offer. And so now, the team that signs Oswalt will not lose"
Rockies "have a shot" at pitcher Roy Oswalt
November 17
Denver Post
 
"He is a man of ordinary size, 6-foot, 190 pounds. But Roy Oswalt has made a career of coming up huge in big games and welcomes the pressure of anchoring a rotation. He profiles as the ideal pitcher to help the Rockies, and his agent Bob Garber said Wednesday that conversations with the club have been meaningful. "It isn't passing interest. I believe they are serious," said Garber, who met with Rockies assistant general manager Bill Geivett at the Pfister Hotel. "They have a shot." Just as important, Oswalt has an open mind about the Rockies. He has always pitched well at Coors Field but was unwilling to waive his no-trade clause for Colorado when Houston shipped him to the Phillies during"
Royals show interest in Oswalt
November 15
Kansas City Star
 
"The Royals are expected to meet with the agent for free-agent pitcher Roy Oswalt during the General Managers' Meetings, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The meetings began today and run through Wednesday in Milwaukee. Oswalt, 34, is seeking a long-term contract, according to agent Bob Garber, despite the possible limitations imposed by two degenerative disks in his lower back. He became a free agent when Philadelphia opted not to exercise a $16 million option for next season."
Mike Rizzo meets with agent for C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt
November 15
Washington Post
 
"If there was any doubt about the Nationals' desire to add one more top-of-the-rotation starter, it was erased on the first night of the General Manager meetings. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo met for about 45 minutes Monday night with Bob Garber, the agent for free agent starting pitchers C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt. Afterward, Garber kept his remarks to a minimum out of a mutual desire for privacy in the negotiations. But he said that Rizzo expressed interest in both pitchers, and the sides will keep talking about both pitchers as the offseason moves forward."
Yankees' Brian Cashman reaches out to agent for C.J. Wilson, Roy Oswalt
November 7
New York Daily News
 
"After locking up CC Sabathia with a five-year deal last week, Brian Cashman said he planned to take a "conservative" approach to the free-agent market. That approach is underway. Cashman spoke Saturday with Bob Garber, the agent that represents both C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt, calling it nothing more than a "basic expression of interest." Cashman's annual winter routine consists of speaking with virtually every agent that represents a player on the market, so it's premature to read into any conversations the Yankee general manager is having this early in the process. "It's just the beginning of the process," Cashman said. "I'm talking to all agents and expressing interest in those we feel"
Yankees make contact with rep for top free agent pitchers Roy Oswalt, C.J. Wilson
November 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Yankees have already checked in with two of the top free agent pitchers in the market, Roy Oswalt and C.J. Wilson. "I'm in the process of talking with everybody," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "That's the way the routine works." Cashman made contact Friday with agent Bob Garber, who represents both pitchers, as part of the his initial sweep through the free agent market. He hopes simply to gauge interest."
Agent: Oswalt plans to pitch in 2012
November 3
Foxsports.com
 
"The agent for Roy Oswalt affirmed Wednesday that the veteran pitcher "absolutely" plans to pitch in 2012, following a season in which he was twice placed on the disabled list with lower back inflammation. "His back feels great," Bob Garber told FOXSports.com. "He's definitely looking for a long-term contract." Oswalt, 34, hinted earlier this year that he might consider retiring after the 2011 season. He went 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 23 starts, his fewest since 2003. He was diagnosed with a bulging disk in his back, for which he received cortisone and epidural injections in July, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer."
Source: Yanks not after Roy Oswalt
November 2
ESPN.com
 
"Although the New York Yankees' offseason priority is adding a starting pitcher, there is one high-profile free-agent starter who has apparently been crossed off the team's shopping list. No, it's not C.J. Wilson. It is Roy Oswalt, whose history of lower back problems make it highly unlikely that the Yankees would take a chance on him, despite his 159-93 career record and 3.21 ERA compiled over 11 National League seasons."
Nolan Ryan: Rangers 'open to anything' this offseason, including Roy Oswalt
November 2
Dallas Morning News
 
"Rangers president and CEO Nolan Ryan talked with Galloway & Co. on KESN-FM Tuesday afternoon. Here are some highlights: On what the Rangers have in mind for the pursuit of C.J. Wilson: You don't really know what that market's going to be. That market will develop as we go forward. Do I think we'll be competitive? Yeah, I think we'll be competitive. Now, does what we consider competitive and what somebody else may step up and do because they feel like they have to strengthen their pitching and they go further than what we feel is justifiable? You really don't know. You're going to have to see how that develops."
Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt could be offseason targets for Yankees
November 2
New York Daily News
 
"By signing CC Sabathia to a new five-year, $122 million contract, the Yankees filled the slot at the top of their starting rotation. Now Brian Cashman must bolster the rest of it. Cashman, who Tuesday signed a three-year contract to continue as the Yankees' general manager, said the focus this winter will be on the same thing it seems to be every year: "Pitching, pitching, pitching." Unlike last winter, when the Yankees appeared desperate in their pursuit of Cliff Lee, Cashman said he won't have to "be in an emotional or reactive state because we're vulnerable.""
Madson, Oswalt, Rollins are Type A free agents
November 1
CSN Philly
 
"The folks at MLBTradeRumors.com have secured the Elias Sports Bureau rankings of free-agent players for this winter. The Phils have five notable free agents on the list. Ryan Madson, Roy Oswalt and Jimmy Rollins are all Type A free agents. Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge are both Type B free agents. The rankings, based on a player's statistics over the previous two seasons, are used to determine draft-pick compensation for clubs losing free agents."
Phillies decline options of Lidge, Oswalt
October 25
CSN Philly
 
"As expected, the Phillies have declined the 2012 options for pitchers Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt, the team announced in a press release. Both pitchers are now eligible to file for free agency. In choosing not to exercise the options, the Phillies paid a $2 million buyout to Oswalt and $1.5 million to Lidge. The move does not mean that Lidge or Oswalt cannot return to the Phillies. Quite the contrary. In fact, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says he would like to bring back the players for 2012."
Phillies go for kill with Oswalt in Game 4
October 5
CSN Philly
 
"Roy Oswalt knows exactly what he'll be pitching for on Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium. To Oswalt, it doesn't matter to him if the Phillies lead or trail the series, 2-1. Oswalt is pitching to win. Actually, Oswalt has been nearly in the same exact spot… literally. Oswalt was the last winning pitcher in the old Busch Stadium when he tossed a three-hitter to take home MVP honors in the 2005 NLCS. More importantly, Oswalt pitched the Astros into the World Series for the first time in their history just a game removed from Albert Pujols' famous game-winning home run off Brad Lidge."
Oswalt gets chance to close out Cards
October 5
Courier-Post
 
"Roy Oswalt is relieved that today won't potentially be one of last starts for him. By beating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2on Tuesday in Game 3 of the NLDS, the Phillies are on the verge of closing out the series today with Oswalt on the mound. And considering that a little more than three months ago, the pain in Oswalt's back was so bad that he might have thrown the final pitch of his career, there's no place that he'd rather be. "A month ago, I was battling backfrom back pain," Oswalt said. "I was trying to pitch through it for so long. It was probably my fault for trying to pitch through it for too long. I should have just had it taken care of and gotten back out there a little bit"
Oswalt's consistency vital to October success
September 23
CSN Philly
 
"Following Roy Oswalt's strong seven-inning performance in a 9-2 win over St. Louis last Saturday, the Phillies lost each turn of a rotation cycle for the first time all year. And so Oswalt is set to take the hill again tonight, aiming to break up a five-game losing streak in which the Phillies have failed to get on base, score, or support their pitchers. Though, what might be more important than a win Thursday is another good game from Oswalt, who has struggled to put together a string of consistent efforts since returning from a second DL stint August 7. Six of Oswalt's eight outings since then have been quality starts, but in several he had either disconcerting strikeout numbers,"
Myers, Astros outplay Oswalt, sloppy Phillies
September 13
CSN Philly
 
"The Phillies suffered a 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Monday night. We know what you're thinking: How in the name of Braulio Castillo can the best team in the majors get beaten so soundly by the worst team in the majors? Easy when you consider all this: The Phillies played poor defense behind Roy Oswalt and that contributed to two runs in the fourth inning. Oswalt hung an ugly 0-2 curveball and Carlos Lee swatted it for a two-run homer the next inning. And Astros starter Brett Myers changed speeds nicely in pitching a beauty against his old team. "If you want to know the truth, we got outplayed," manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's the bottom line." Manuel's club is steaming toward"
Pence, Oswalt share a bittersweet return to Houston
September 13
Houston Chronicle
 
"For two players who took the same positions in a ballpark where they'd played for the home team so many times before, almost everything was different. Even forgetting the literal — that Hunter Pence and Roy Oswalt had very different walks to the unfamiliar visitors' clubhouse at Minute Maid Park and wore a brighter shade of red — their circumstances were totally different than when they left Houston in twin July purges. They're now competing for a playoff spot, a goal they advanced a little closer toward even with Monday's 5-1 loss to the Astros. And at least for Pence, despite hitting third and playing right field — same as it ever was — he fills a whole new role in the dynamic of the"
Oswalt, Pence return to Minute Maid tonight with Phillies
September 12
Houston Chronicle
 
"The receptions, however Houston wants the tone to be, will come in one order or another. Hunter Pence may get his first when he takes his high-socked strut to the batter's box to what is almost sure to be a loud ovation in his first game back as a Philadelphia Phillie and as a visitor. Or if he doesn't get to bat in the top of the first inning against former Astros teammate (and former Phillie) Brett Myers, then it might be Roy Oswalt who gets his greeting first. Oswalt, in speaking with the Philadelphia press at a weekend series in Milwaukee, said he isn't sure what his will sound like. "Hunter will probably get a lot of cheers because they just traded him outright," said Oswalt, who"
Oswalt hit hard in Phillies' loss to Marlins
August 28
CSN Philly
 
"The Phillies lost a game on Friday night. OK, so what. Losses happen, even to the best team in the majors. The real story of this game wasn't the defeat. It was how Roy Oswalt pitched. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just an off night. But for some reason, Oswalt took a step backward in the Phillies' 6-5 loss to the Florida Marlins. Gone was the crackling fastball that helped him strike out nine Washington Nationals over eight shutout innings in his previous start. Gone was the command. "He had trouble getting ahead of the hitters and it also looked like he had a hard time getting the ball inside on guys, or he didn't have anything when he threw it in there," manager Charlie Manuel"
Oswalt hit hard in Phillies' loss to Marlins
August 27
CSN Philly
 
"The Phillies lost a game on Friday night. OK, so what. Losses happen, even to the best team in the majors. The real story of this game wasn't the defeat. It was how Roy Oswalt pitched. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just an off night. But for some reason, Oswalt took a step backward in the Phillies' 6-5 loss to the Florida Marlins. Gone was the crackling fastball that helped him strike out nine Washington Nationals over eight shutout innings in his previous start. Gone was the command. "He had trouble getting ahead of the hitters and it also looked like he had a hard time getting the ball inside on guys, or he didn't have anything when he threw it in there," manager Charlie Manuel"
Oswalt tosses gem in Phillies' win over Nationals
August 21
CSN Philly
 
"Strangely enough, the rain storms that dealt the Phillies nearly five hours of delays and wreaked havoc on manager Charlie Manuel's pitching staff over the previous two nights, just might have worked out in the end. At least it appears that way for Roy Oswalt. The Phillies' starter, originally slated to pitch in Friday night's series opener against the Nationals at Nationals Park, stretched, ran and warmed up only to get bumped when the delay went on for too long. Instead, Oswalt turned in his best performance of the season on Saturday night in the Phillies' 5-0 victory. "It's the first time I started games back to back," Oswalt said, after the Phillies got their 16th shutout of the"
Healthy Oswalt shuts out Nationals
August 21
Courier-Post
 
"After a two-out base hit in the eighth inning, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel emerged from the dugout to check on his starter. Manuel has made the trip to the mound to visit Roy Oswalt too many times this year. Through four months of the season, Manuel knew Oswalt was in pain, and so he'd walk to the mound to give his pitcher a chance to opt out, to get off his feet and rest his aching back. Saturday, Oswalt wanted no relief. This was his most impressive start of the season, and Oswalt wasn't about to leave early. "He said, "I want to get this guy,' " Manuel said. "He was pretty much sure." After Oswalt induced Michael Morse into a ground ball for the third out of the frame, he sauntered"
Oswalt helps his own cause in rout
August 14
Allentown Morning Call
 
"Roy Oswalt doesn't remind 21st-century Phillies fans of current teammate Cliff Lee at the plate. He won't have older supporters reminiscing about former slugging pitchers in pinstripes Robert Person or Rick Wise. Oswalt's batting practice swings often are Little League-esque. He takes a similar approach running the bases. But, let's face it: He's getting paid $16 million this season for his right arm to get opposing batters out. On Saturday night, Oswalt took a second significant step forward after missing six weeks with back problems. He allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings of the Phillies' 11-3 win over the Nationals. The Phils took advantage of a Citizens Bank Park"
Phillies fall to Lincecum, Giants in Oswalt's return
August 8
CSN Philly
 
"As much as the Phillies would have loved to have run their winning streak to 10 games on Sunday, they were able to find solace in defeat because their vaunted pitching rotation might have taken a step toward becoming even stronger. Roy Oswalt made his first big-league start in six weeks and though he gave up a dozen hits and absorbed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco Giants, he walked away from the start feeling no pain and believing his best is yet to come. "It feels good to be on the field," Oswalt said. "It feels good to be well." The veteran righthander had been on the disabled list since June 23 when the pain in his lower back – he began feeling it in April – became too"
Oswalt outing provides hope
August 8
Courier-Post
 
"Standing in the visitors' dugout in St. Louis after his last start more than a month ago, Roy Oswalt sounded like a broken man, wondering aloud whether he'd thrown his last pitch as a big leaguer. He's come a long way in the weeks since -- his back feeling good once more, and his right arm again capable of delivering a pitch without pain. So while Sunday's return to the mound was hardly an overwhelmingly strong performance for Oswalt, it's one that offered an immense dose of encouragement. "Probably better than I thought I was going to be," Oswalt said. "I gave up a few more hits than I wanted to. But it wasn't like I was giving up doubles in the gap." Oswalt allowed 12 hits over six"
Oswalt places retirement talk on hold
August 7
Courier-Post
 
"When spring training opened, Roy Oswalt openly discussed the idea of retirement. After leaving his June 23 start in St. Louis after two innings, with his back aching and his future in doubt, retirement seemed a very real option. But as Oswalt prepares today to make his first start in nearly seven weeks, the idea of hanging it up is completely out of his mind. "I don't try to put the cart before the horse," said Oswalt, who is 4-6 with a 3.79 ERA this season. "My focus now is just getting back in the rhythm of pitching and trying to get to the playoffs. I haven't really thought about what I'm going to do in the offseason." A year ago, Oswalt arrived via trade from Houston and was a central"
Oswalt set to pitch Sunday for Phillies
August 4
CSN Philly
 
"The pain is gone. Roy Oswalt is eager to return to the Phillies' rotation. He will do so Sunday in San Francisco. "I'm tired of watching and ready to be part of it, for sure," said the righthander, out since June 23 with a bulging disc in his lower back. "It should be fun. I'd like to throw 10 shutouts in a row. I don't know if it will happen, but I'm going to try." Oswalt had a series of injections in his back last month and, after two minor-league rehab starts, says he feels "great." "No pain, that's the big thing," he said. "After the first couple of starts this season I was pitching in pain. That's not fun. It's tough to perform that way. You try not to make excuses, but it got"
Oswalt's return may give Hamels a rest
August 3
Courier-Post
 
"Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said he has a plan for his rotation this weekend in San Francisco, but he's not ready to reveal it. Roy Oswalt, who pitched six solid innings in a rehab start Monday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, is expected to be activated and start against the Giants. His normal day to pitch would be Saturday -- but that would be Cole Hamels' day to pitch, too. So, who will get the extra rest? "Probably, if you really want to look at it, more so Cole because of his workload," Dubee said. "But (Oswalt) has had an accelerated workload to get back here." While Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay have enjoyed an extra day off between starts 10 times each this season, Hamels has only"
Oswalt makes strides in latest rehab start
August 2
CSN Philly
 
"Roy Oswalt didn't factor in the decision Monday night as Lehigh Valley snapped its four-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the opener of a doubleheader at PNC Field. The veteran right-hander, however, went a long way toward proving that he's ready to rejoin the parent club as it makes its push toward the postseason. Oswalt allowed two runs over six innings, scattering seven hits and striking out four while throwing 90 pitches. It was his second rehab outing since going on the disabled list on June 24 with lower back inflammation. He should be able to step back into the Phillies' rotation this weekend when the club faces the San Francisco Giants. The"
Oswalt pleased with progress
July 28
Allentown Morning Call
 
"In his first time on a mound since June, Roy Oswalt was not as dominant as most IronPigs fans were probably hoping he'd be. The Phillies pitcher — who has made just 13 starts in the majors this season — took the ball at Coca-Cola Park on Wednesday and pitched four innings against Pawtucket in a rehab start. He faced 15 batters, giving up a run on one hit, walking two and striking out four in front of a full-capacity crowd of 10,000. "It went all right," Oswalt told reporters after he came out of the game. "I'm probably going to have to do another one before I get back in Philly." The only hit he yielded was a long one that didn't come down until it cleared the right-field fence. Lars"
Oswalt shows some rust in rehab outing
July 28
PhillyBurbs.com
 
"Batting practice was over for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and everyone was heading from the field to the clubhouse Wednesday when noticing their pitcher had arrived. Roy Oswalt was in the trainer's room, his home away from home in clubhouses near and far all season long. This pregame visit was no big deal, though: The one missing-in-action ace from the Phillies rotation was there just to stretch out his back for his first outing in five weeks. Seventy-two pitches later, 12 more than a soft limit the Phillies' brass had set, Oswalt had passed an important test. Oswalt didn't ace it. But, with his velocity a little down and his location not at its best, it couldn't take away from the one big"
Oswalt to make rehab start, Polanco improving
July 25
CSN Philly
 
"Phillies right-hander Roy Oswalt, who hasn't pitched in more than a month because of bulging discs in his back, is set to make his first minor-league rehab stint on Wednesday, Phillies Assistant General Manager Scott Proefrock said Sunday, before the Phillies-Padres game at Citizens Bank Park. Oswalt hasn't pitched since complaining of back discomfort after a two-inning, four-run stint against the Cards in St. Louis on June 23. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day. Proefrock said Oswalt will pitch Wednesday for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are scheduled to face the Pawtucket Red Sox at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pa. Oswalt, who turns 34 next"