As has been reported previously, Roy Oswalt would consider retiring after this season. The Phillies have a club option on Oswalt next season, so, should they decide to keep him, he would be owed $16 million. If they decide to not pick up his option, they would still have to pay Oswalt $2 million. Not a bad deal, really. But Oswalt doesn't care about money and he may decide to retire, even if he is offered the $16 million option.
Roy Oswalt reporter extraordinair Mandy Housenick has the comments: [Allentown Morning Call]
"This [game] has been great to me and I have things that I thought I'd never have if I would have done something else," he admitted. "I guess a lot of people would say if they throw this big contract in front of your face you have to take it. But money doesn't bring happiness that you strive for in life.
"I'll kind of decide where I'm at after the season. I have to see if I can pitch. I'm not going to come back and sit on the DL. I'm not that type."
It's crazy to think that Oswalt, who is only 33 and can still pitch at a high level, would retire… but such is life for folks from Mississippi. There's some huntin' to be done. Or something like that.
Just a friendly reminder that the Four Aces might not hold that moniker for long.
8 Responses
He was and still is underappreciated for how filthy he was after we acquired him last year anyway. He doesn’t have the charm of Lee and the intense all-I-want-to-do-is-win attitude of Halladay, but the guy does want to win. We judge their decisions as people who aren’t being paid millions each year and say we’d gladly take the money to sit on the DL, but we can’t bash a guy for having values and recognizing that money isn’t everything in life.
props to him for chasing something other than paper. that trophy buck or whatever it is – but I give dap where its due. and this dude gets some.
A bunch of these guys need to be hoisting the trophy in October before leaving — Oswalt, Ibanez, Rollins.
Simply put: I don’t think he wants to play baseball anymore. He’ll finish out this year, and retire.
I give him credit for not being in it just for the money. He’s a real role model.
At least he knows that he might not be able to perform at his peak anymore..unlike another Mississippian I can think of
He’s one classy guy. I hope he decides to return next year.
Always been a class act and after years of admiring his pitching from afar it has been a true joy to watch him pitch in Philly pinstripes. @Bob is 100% correct, people forget how he helped carry us down the stretch last year. I firmly believe if we don’t get him at the deadline last year the Phils would have had a real hard time catching the Braves.
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