Roy Oswalt, Will You Just Sign Already?

Truck Day was yesterday, and pitchers and catchers report a week from today.  Most teams pretty much know what the make-up of their teams are, and they know who's being invited to Spring Training.  There are still a few moves to make, but things are pretty much set.

Except for Roy Oswalt.  Oswalt isn't an ace in my standards, but he is a very good pitcher who would typically be a number two or three guy on a team.  He wants to pitch for either the Rangers or the Cardinals.  The Rangers have said they're set in their rotation, and the Cardinals seem to be set as well, though they haven't eliminated the thought of Oswalt.  Oswalt wants to pitch for a contender.

The Red Sox have reportedly offered Oswalt a 1-year deal between $5-7 million; he supposedly wants $10 million.  If I was Oswalt, I wouldn't be too picky.  He's not the type of player who can demand such a salary anymore, especially after having the injuries he's had the past few years.  He needs to prove that he still has what it takes to demand that salary, like Adrian Beltre did a few years ago for the Sox.  On a note, just have to say that Beltre was one of the most entertaining athletes to watch two summers ago.

Oswalt has also said that he would prefer not to play in Boston, that it was geography (he wants to stay around the Midwest or South).  Again, I don't think Oswalt can be picky.  In the Midwest and South, there are numerous teams, but when you factor in contenders, there's only a few- Cardinals, Rangers, and Braves... possibly Marlins if you buy into their hoopla.  Again, Cardinals, Rangers, and Braves seem set in their rotations, and the Marlins are going to be a crazy team.

So, I think Oswalt needs to suck it up, take the Red Sox deal, and just sign already.  It's for one-year.  In that one year, he can prove that he's still a great pitcher; and next year, he can sign with whomever he chooses at whatever price he wants.  He just can't do that this year.