Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Moving On - Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt

2011 Topps Heritage Black #C22 and #C41
As expected, the Phillies declined their options on the 2012 contracts of pitchers Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt yesterday.  I've added both their names to the Moving On listing at the bottom of this post, but the Phillies expect to at least try to bring back both pitchers albeit at lesser salaries.

If this is the end of Lidge's Phillie tenure, he'll forever be celebrated for his perfect 2008 season in which he converted 48 saves in 48 opportunities - 41 in the regular season and 7 in the postseason.  Through the 2011 season, Lidge has exactly 100 saves with the Phillies, placing him in fourth place on the team's all-time list behind Jose Mesa (112), Steve Bedrosian (103) and Mitch Williams (102).  He recovered nicely from off-season rotator cuff surgery and lingering elbow problems to post a 1.40 ERA over 19.1 innings this past season.

Oswalt, who was hampered by back injuries most of this year, started to show his old form later in the 2011 season.  He came to the Phillies via a trade with the Astros late last July and compiled a 16-11 record and a 2.96 ERA in 35 starts with the Phils.  In five postseason games, Oswalt was 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA.  The Phillies opted to pay Oswalt a $2 million buy-out in lieu of the $16 million he was scheduled to receive in 2012.

Moving On
Dane Sardinha 10/10/11 - Elected free agency
Brandon Moss 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and elected free agency
Pete Orr 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and elected free agency
Brad Lidge 10/24/11 - Team option declined
Roy Oswalt 10/24/11 - Team option declined

3 comments:

flywheels said...

Pete Orr is still playing?!

Jim said...

Still playing and he actually started in 24 games for the Phils in 2011.

Jim from Downingtown said...

They should not bring either one of them back at ANY price. Lidge has nothing left, and Oswalt is liable to get another back injury at any time (not to mention his mid-season lack of desire).

The Phillies need to get younger, and they might as well start with these 2 (and Ibanez). Whatever money they are thinking of tossing their way should be added to Madson's offer.