Roy Oswalt: How Chris Carpenter’s Extension Affects His Future with Phils

Roy Oswalt’s career with the Philadelphia Phillies has come full circle.

After initially seeming reluctant to join the team prior to last season’s trade deadline, Oswalt has now ended any retirement speculation by saying that he feels rejuvenated after pitching for the Phils this season.

But what about pitching for the Phils next season?

The same contract option that Oswalt wanted guaranteed prior to accepting a deal to the Phillies is about to make its way to the top of the team’s offseason to-do list.

After losing to the Washington Nationals on September 22, Oswalt has cemented the first losing regular season of his 10-year career, as his record currently stands at 8-10.

The 34-year-old has also missed 53 games this season due to lower back injuries.

And it was just three months ago that his health, combined with his desire to pitch past this season, brought up the possibility of this being his last season not only in a Phillies uniform, but in Major League Baseball altogether.

Now that the Phillies have enjoyed a historic season for the franchise, Oswalt’s decision for next season has seemingly changed.

But what about the Phillies’ decision?

The Phils can either pick up their club option and pay Oswalt $16 million for the 2012 season, pay a $2 million buyout and let him leave as a free agent or allow him to opt out of his contract and negotiate a new, less expensive deal in order to keep him with the team.

The chances of Oswalt passing on $16 million may not seem too high, unless the recent comments from his agent, Bob Garber, are true.

However, a contract extension signed by another starting pitcher may play a large role in Oswalt’s future with the Phils, and in more ways than one.

Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals avoided a similar offseason decision when they agreed to a two-year, $21 million deal on September 15.

Carpenter is two years older than Oswalt and has three more years of experience.

He also previously had a $15 million club option for the 2012 season that St. Louis could have picked up or negotiated a $1 million buyout.

Carpenter’s extension provided the Cardinals with extra money to spend on their upcoming free agents, which they have already put to use by signing Lance Berkman to a one-year extension.

Now all they have to do is figure out how to re-sign arguably the greatest player in Major League Baseball.

But Carpenter’s deal does not only give the Phils a template for a possible new contract for Oswalt; it also takes a possible offseason suitor out of the picture.

If Oswalt were to leave the Phillies, the Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves would seemingly sit as potential suitors as options for remaining in the National League and playing closer to his home in Mississippi. 

But after signing Carpenter to an extension, and with other free agents to re-sign this offseason, the Cardinals may have just removed themselves from the potential Roy Oswalt sweepstakes.

Which leaves the Atlanta Braves: a team that is already set to pay Derek Lowe (9-16, 4.92 ERA) $15 million next season and Tim Hudson $9 million. They also have Julio Teheran (15-3, 2.55 ERA) as their minor league pitcher of the year.

Could Carpenter’s extension with St. Louis have given the Phils leverage when it comes to Oswalt’s future with the team?

One hold-up may involve Joe Blanton and the $10.5 million he’s owed next season.

However, Blanton may also have to have surgery to repair nerve damage following this season. The recovery time could be as long as six months, which means Blanton would have to undergo the procedure in October in order to be back in time for spring training or the start of next season.

The Phils seemingly have four spots in next season’s rotation solidified after the emergence of rookie Vance Worley this season.

Worley is 11-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 21 starts this season, including a streak of seven consecutive wins to start the second half of the season.

The Phillies will have a lengthy to-do list this offseason, with Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Madson set to hit the free-agent market and Cole Hamels nearing a long-term deal.

After initially seeming reluctant to join the Phils, going 7-1 down the stretch and helping the team reach their third-consecutive NLCS in 2010, and having his first losing regular season record after missing 53 games this season, Oswalt’s year-and-a-half with the Phillies has seen a little bit of everything.

But will he see $16 million next season? Or will he see $2 million before continuing his career with a different team?

Or will he negotiate a new deal for less money, similar to Carpenter with the Cardinals, and give the Phils more room financially to re-sign their own free agents?

Oswalt’s future with the Phillies has taken a number of different turns this season.

And after Carpenter’s recent contract extension, Oswalt’s future may have just taken a turn in the Phillies’ favor.

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