Major announcement after the game tonight [Oswalt Signs 5-yr extension]

[Astros press release] Major Annoucement after the game today (Tuesday)

Per Jim Deshaies and his partner in the TV booth. The said the team owner and GM will be there after the game against Milwaukee for the press conference.

 

Man you are quick.

 

Most likely a contract extension for Oswalt... They state it as a MAJOR announcement.

 

Major announcement after the game tonight

Roy O?

 

yeah i heard that too! the anoucner said his guess was oswalts contract extension.

 

Damn, missed it by that much!

-Maxwell Smart

 

im scared i wonder what it is

 

Roy O or Koby Clemens

My guess is Roy O as they were in talks with his agent today and this week but they have been for the most part, mum on the subject.

Anything else will be a complete surprise....

 

http://www.realgmbaseball.com/src_w...nt_to_discuss_extension_with_club_on_tuesday/

 

Roy O's deal will be announced thats the rumor on houston radio all day

 

Well, I have a major announcement of my own.......

















































All of these "Major Announcement" threads will be merged in 3...2...1....

 

it looks like its almost certin that its ROY

LINK

Press conference for Oswalt set
Astros likely to announce five-year deal for ace pitcher
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Could the Astros be close to locking up Roy Oswalt for the next five years?

The Astros have called a press conference following Tuesday's game, presumably to announce the club has signed Oswalt to a long-term deal, likely for five years.

General manager Tim Purpura did not get into specifics, but he did confirm he and club owner Drayton McLane met with Oswalt's agents on Tuesday and discussed parameters for a long-term deal. "Long-term" usually means at least three years, but in this case, the Astros may be willing to stretch it to five.

"Things have moved along very well today," Purpura said. "We had good meetings. Hopefully, we can come to an agreement and get Roy under contract long-term."

The Astros have not signed a pitcher to more than three years in over a decade, but today's market has forced teams to rethink their policies. Normally, giving pitchers more than three years can backfire, given the risk of injury. But in Oswalt's case, the Astros may be willing to stretch it.

Compared to A.J. Burnett (five-year contract), Ben Sheets (four), Chan Ho Park (five) and Bartolo Colon (four) when they signed their recent contracts, Oswalt has a stronger track record. He's a two-time 20-game winner and has managed to stay away from debilitating injuries, although he has had some nicks and cuts along the way.

"You have to look at the player, No. 1," Purpura said. "And you have to look at the market. There have been several four- or five-year contracts that have gone into the market in the last few years. Some of them are pitchers that quite frankly, aren't as good as Roy. Maybe that's a bad bargaining position to take, but it's the truth. Some of those players have signed contracts that really don't equate, from our point of view, to their value."

The Astros view Oswalt differently. They drafted him in 1996 and watched him develop into an elite pitcher, and they have no lingering questions surrounding his physical well-being or his work ethic.

"Anytime you give a pitcher a long-term contract, you bear a risk," Purpura said. "From my point of view, Roy Oswalt is the type of pitcher you take a risk on. He maintains his conditioning tremendously, he's a low-maintenance guy from a mechanics point of view and we've obviously known him since the day he came into the organization.

"We know the kind of person he is, on and off the field. All the factors that create risk, you know where you stand with those. Those risks are lessened with a player like Roy."

Is a five-year deal too much for a pitcher?

"Not necessarily, no," Purpura said.

Oswalt made his 26th start of the season on Tuesday, his 29th birthday. The right-hander has the lowest career ERA (2.66) and the third-highest winning percentage (.739, 51-18) at home of any active pitcher with at least 70 starts in home games. His .664 winning percentage is the highest in Houston franchise history.

Purpura did not deny the chance an agreement could come as early as the end of the game on Tuesday.

"It possibly could," Purpura said. "It's his birthday and, he's pitching, so, who knows?"

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

Someone please post specifics for us out-of-towners ASAP. I'm refreshing astros.com every 30 seconds and getting quite impatient, like any good spoiled 21st-century American.

 

Its official - 5 yr option for 6th yr 73 million.

 

Nice.

 

wow. damn that drayton mclane!!!

 

Cheapass! Where's the damn rabbit??

 

Way to step up Drayton!