Before they were crushed by the Detroit Tigers yesterday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox were already fielding questions regarding their pitching. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that the team is willing to add payroll in order to improve its staff. This immediately caused fans and analysts alike to think of free agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt. While the Red Sox have been tied to Oswalt since the 2011 season ended, it sounds as if they were warned to steer clear of the veteran right-hander.
According to Peter Gammons of MLB.com, Lucchino spoke with a National League general manager regarding Oswalt while looking into acquiring the veteran starter. However, the unnamed GM apparently dissuaded Lucchino from pursuing Oswalt.
That’s all the information Gammons provides; he doesn’t say why the mysterious GM advised Lucchino to avoid Oswalt. It could be Oswalt’s questionable health situation as he faced what was initially considered to be a career-threatening back injury last season.
Others around the league have questioned Oswalt’s desire to pitch, especially after his announcement that he’d be open to signing mid-season.
While the Red Sox appear willing to spend money to acquire pitching, they don’t seem to be interested in the market’s top remaining starter.
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